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Clovis, CA Fire Regulations: Outdoor Burning (2026)

Heavy Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified August 2026

Outdoor burning rules in Clovis, 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

Banned containers
incinerator, can, barrel, pit, fireplace
Compliance path
Clovis Fire Dept. Standard 5.3
Ag burning route
SJV Air Pollution Control District permit
Penalty
misdemeanor, each day a separate offense
Cost recovery
Fire Dept. may bill response costs

Summary

Clovis Fire Code Section 307.1.1 bans open burning in any incinerator, can, barrel, pit, outdoor fireplace or similar container anywhere in the city. Residents who want to burn debris must instead follow Clovis Fire Department Standard 5.3, and agricultural operators need a burn permit from the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District rather than City Hall.

Section 307.1.1 Prohibited open burning. Open burning shall be prohibited in any incinerator, can, barrel, pit, outdoor fireplace or similar container or enclosure. All other open burning shall be in compliance with Clovis Fire Department Standard 5.3. or a permit for agricultural burning shall be obtained from the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution District.

Full Breakdown

102. 1 to flatly bar open burning inside any incinerator, can, barrel, pit, outdoor fireplace or similar container or enclosure, without the exemptions the base International Fire Code allows for small recreational fires. 3, the department's internal burning standard, or an agricultural burn permit issued by the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District, a separate state-created regional agency rather than a city office. 030 still cannot be used to burn yard waste, wood scraps or trash without one of those two approvals; the setback table governs placement only.

7, a Notice to Appear, or a request that the City Attorney file suit. 102(g) additionally lets the fire code official bill a violator for the Fire Department's actual response and mitigation costs when an illegal open fire requires suppression.

Violations & Fines

Igniting a fire in a prohibited container is enforceable under Section 4.4.102(f) as a misdemeanor, with each day of noncompliance a separate offense, or as an administrative citation under Title 1, Chapter 1.7. If the Fire Department has to respond and suppress an illegal burn, Section 4.4.102(g) authorizes the City to recover its response costs directly from the person who set or allowed the fire.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I have an open fire in my backyard in Clovis?
No. Fire Code Section 307.1.1, as amended by Municipal Code Section 4.4.102(i), prohibits open burning in any incinerator, can, barrel, pit, outdoor fireplace or similar container anywhere in the city. The only way to burn legally is to follow Clovis Fire Department Standard 5.3 or, for agricultural burning, obtain a permit from the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District.
What happens if the Fire Department has to put out an illegal burn?
Section 4.4.102(g) lets the fire code official recover the Fire Department's actual cost of responding to and mitigating a hazard, including an illegal open fire, from the person who caused it. The violation itself is also a misdemeanor under Section 4.4.102(f), with each day it continues counted as a separate offense.
Does a permitted fire pit let me burn wood waste in Clovis?
No. Meeting the Table 4-1 setback for a stationary fire pit under Section 9.40.030 only satisfies the zoning placement rule. Section 307.1.1 separately bans open burning inside that same pit unless it complies with Fire Department Standard 5.3 or an agricultural burn permit from the regional air district.

Sources & Official References

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How Clovis compares: Cities with the Strictest Outdoor Burning Rules·California rules heatmap·Compare Clovis to another location·View the California fire regulations overview

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