San Benito County, CA Fire Regulations: Fire Pit Rules (2026)

San Benito County has not published a fire-pit-specific ordinance, so the controlling rules are the California Fire Code (CFC, Title 24 Part 9) as applied by CAL FIRE's San Benito-Monterey Unit and county fire, together with Monterey Bay Air Resources District (MBARD) burning rules. Under CFC Section 307.4.2, 'Recreational fires shall not be conducted within 25 feet of a structure or combustible material,' and conditions that could let the fire spread within that radius must be cleared first. Under CFC Section 307.4.3, 'Portable outdoor fireplaces shall be used in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions and shall not be operated within 15 feet of a structure or combustible material'; an exception removes the 15-foot rule for portable outdoor fireplaces used at one- and two-family dwellings. CFC Section 307.5 requires that the fire be constantly attended until fully extinguished, with at least one 4-A-rated fire extinguisher (or a garden hose, water barrel, dirt, or sand) immediately available. Wood smoke is separately governed by MBARD. During the dry season, CAL FIRE BEU regularly suspends all burn permits and open fire across the State Responsibility Area in San Benito and Monterey Counties (for example, suspensions issued in May 2024 and May 2025), and recreational fires in the wildland are restricted accordingly. Propane and natural-gas fire pits produce far less smoke and are generally allowed subject to the same clearance and attendance principles.