Newport Beach Fire Pit Rules Rules (2026): What You Need to Know

NBMC Title 9, incorporating the California Fire Code with local amendments, provides the regulatory framework for outdoor fires in Newport Beach. Recreational fires using solid fuel (wood, charcoal, manufactured fire logs) must be contained in a commercially manufactured, UL-listed or equivalent portable outdoor fireplace or fire pit with a mesh spark arrestor screen with openings no larger than one-half inch. Homemade fire pits, open ground fires, burn barrels, and uncontained burning of any kind are prohibited on private residential property.

All wood-burning recreational fires must maintain a minimum clearance of 15 feet from any structure (including the residence, garage, shed, fence, or pergola), combustible vegetation, and property lines. The fire must be attended at all times by a competent adult who has a garden hose connected to a water supply or a portable fire extinguisher (minimum 4-pound ABC rated) within immediate reach. Fires must be fully extinguished before being left unattended, and no accelerants (gasoline, lighter fluid in excess, etc.) may be used.

Gas-fueled fire features — including built-in fire pits, fire tables, and linear fire troughs — are increasingly popular in Newport Beach's upscale residential landscape. Permanently installed gas fire features connected to a natural gas or propane supply line require a building permit and inspection to verify compliance with California Mechanical Code clearance requirements, gas line sizing, and shutoff valve placement. Portable propane fire pits that connect to a standard 20-pound propane tank are generally exempt from the building permit requirement but must still observe the 15-foot setback and operational safety rules. The Fire Department recommends that all gas fire features include an automatic gas shutoff valve and wind guard.