Berkeley, CA Fire Regulations: Outdoor Burning (2026)
Outdoor burning rules in Berkeley, CA, also called the burn ban, open burning, or fire restriction ordinance, set when you can burn yard waste, debris, or run a recreational fire.
Key Facts
- Default rule
- no outdoor fire without written permit
- Trash burning
- prohibited even with a fire-pit permit
- Burn-ban triggers
- red flag conditions, high wind, public announcement
- Ash disposal
- fire pit hearth or covered container only
- Geographic scope
- mapped WUI hillside zones only
Summary
Berkeley bars any outdoor fire in its mapped Wildland-Urban Interface areas, the hillside fire hazard zones above the flatlands, unless the person burning holds a written permit from the Fire Chief. Burning rubbish, trash, or combustible waste in a barbecue, fireplace, incinerator, or fire pit is prohibited outright, permit or no permit.
A104.7.1 General. Persons shall not build, ignite or maintain any outdoor fire of any kind for any purpose in or on any wildland-urban interface area, except by the authority of a written permit from the code official. A104.7.3 Restrictions. Persons shall not use a permanent barbecue, portable barbecue, outdoor fireplace, incinerator, fire pit or grill for the disposal of rubbish, trash or combustible waste material.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 8031-NS, passed July 28, 2026).
Full Breakdown
040): no person may build, ignite, or maintain an outdoor fire of any kind there without a written permit from the code official, the Fire Chief acting as fire code official. 3 separately bars using a permanent barbecue, portable barbecue, outdoor fireplace, incinerator, fire pit, or grill for the disposal of rubbish, trash, or combustible waste material, regardless of permit status. 2). 2 voids permission to burn during NOAA red flag conditions, high winds, unattended fires, or after a City announcement that open burning is prohibited. 9. These rules apply only inside Berkeley's mapped WUI hillside zones; they do not reach the flatland districts outside those boundaries.
Violations & Fines
Burning without a permit, or burning rubbish in violation of Section A104.7.3, is a misdemeanor under Fire Code § 113.4, chargeable as an infraction at the enforcing officer's discretion, with each day of continued violation a separate offense. The City may issue an administrative citation under BMC Chapter 1.28, declare the violation a public nuisance under Chapter 1.26, or abate it under Chapter 1.24. Orders of the fire code official may be appealed to the City Council within 10 calendar days under Section 112.1, subject to payment of the appeal fee and an advance deposit of any fine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is open burning banned everywhere in Berkeley?
Can I burn yard debris or trash in my backyard fire pit?
Who can order a burn ban in Berkeley's fire zones?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Berkeley
How Berkeley compares: Cities with the Strictest Outdoor Burning Rules·California rules heatmap·Compare Berkeley to another location·View the California fire regulations overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Outdoor Burning in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Alameda County handle outdoor burning.