Costa Mesa, CA Fire Regulations: Outdoor Burning (2026)
Outdoor burning rules in Costa Mesa, 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
- Wind/humidity trigger
- 8 mph wind + under 25% humidity bans fires
- Hard wind cutoff
- 20 mph wind bans fires, any fuel
- Rubbish burning
- Only in an approved incinerator
- Who declares hazard
- Fire code official, by sign or announcement
- Penalty
- Misdemeanor under Fire Code § 113.4
Summary
Costa Mesa bans outdoor wood fires whenever sustained winds top 8 mph with humidity under 25%, during any posted red-flag warning, or once winds exceed 20 mph regardless of fuel type, under Fire Code § 305.6. Rubbish and trash can never be burned outdoors; it must go into an approved incinerator under § 305.7.
Section 305.6 Hazardous Conditions is hereby added as follows: 305.6 Hazardous conditions. Outdoor fires burning wood or other solid fuel are not allowed when any of the following conditions applies: 1. When predicted sustained winds exceed 8 MPH and relative humidity is less than 25%, or a red flag condition has been declared when an official sign was caused to be posted by the fire code official, or a public announcement is made. 2. No outdoor fires using any fuel type are permitted when predicted sustained winds exceed 20 MPH or when such fires present a hazard as determined by the fire code official. Section 305.7 Disposal of rubbish is hereby added as follows: 305.7 Disposal of rubbish. Rubbish, trash, or combustible waste material shall be burned only within an approved incinerator and in accordance with Section 307.2.1.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4894290; v9 updated 2025-11-18).
Full Breakdown
Costa Mesa's local amendment to the 2025 California Fire Code, adopted under Municipal Code § 7-15, adds two hazardous-conditions rules on top of the state code's general open-burning chapter. 6 bars any outdoor fire burning wood or solid fuel whenever the fire code official's weather trigger is met: sustained winds predicted above 8 mph combined with relative humidity below 25%, a posted or publicly announced red-flag condition, or, regardless of humidity or fuel type, any time sustained winds are predicted above 20 mph or the fire code official independently determines the fire is hazardous.
The fire code official controls the trigger by posting an official sign or issuing a public announcement, so residents planning a permitted fire pit or campfire have to check current conditions before lighting one rather than consult a fixed calendar ban. 1 disposal standard, so burning yard debris, cardboard, or household waste in an open pile or barrel is never lawful in the city regardless of wind or humidity. 1.
Violations & Fines
A violation of the adopted Fire Code, including an outdoor fire lit during a red-flag or high-wind hazard condition or open burning of rubbish outside an approved incinerator, is a misdemeanor under Section 113.4, prosecutable under Municipal Code § 1-33 as well. Each day a violation continues after notice counts as a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I have an outdoor fire on a windy day in Costa Mesa?
Can I burn yard waste or trash in my backyard?
Who decides when a red-flag fire restriction is in effect?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Costa Mesa
How Costa Mesa compares: Cities with the Strictest Outdoor Burning Rules·California rules heatmap·Compare Costa Mesa 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 Orange County handle outdoor burning.