Fire pit rules in Union City, CA — also called outdoor burning, recreational fire, or open flame ordinances — cover fuel types, clearances, and when burning is allowed.
Union City has no special fire-pit ordinance beyond the California Fire Code, adopted as its 2025 edition in Municipal Code Chapter 15.20. Recreational fires must stay at least 25 feet from structures, portable outdoor fireplaces 15 feet, and the fire must be attended until fully out.
Union City adopted the 2025 California Fire Code (with State amendments) in Union City Municipal Code Chapter 15.20, effective January 1, 2026, and the Alameda County Fire Department provides fire prevention services for the city. The Fire Code regulates backyard fire pits as 'recreational fires.' Under California Fire Code Section 307, a recreational fire shall not be conducted within 25 feet of a structure or combustible material, and conditions that could cause the fire to spread within 25 feet of a structure must be eliminated before ignition. A portable outdoor fireplace must be used per the manufacturer's instructions and not operated within 15 feet of a structure or combustible material, except when used at a one- or two-family dwelling. A
Operating a fire pit too close to structures, leaving it unattended, or burning during a Spare the Air Alert can result in enforcement and abatement by the Alameda County Fire Department. Air-quality violations are enforced separately by BAAQMD, which typically
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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