Davis, CA Fire Regulations: Outdoor Burning (2026)
Outdoor burning rules in Davis, 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
- Permit required
- Before any open campfire, § 13.03.020
- Scope
- Public property, excludes parks
- Tied to
- Street use or parade permit
- First/second offense
- Infraction, Gov. Code § 36900(b) fine
- Third offense in 6 months
- Misdemeanor, fine and/or jail
Summary
Davis requires a permit before anyone sets, ignites or maintains an open campfire on city public property, a category that covers grills, smokers and fire pits used for cooking, warmth or social gatherings outside of parks and open space.
Open campfire shall mean the setting, ignition or maintenance of a fire at an outdoor location on public property, excepting parks and open space areas, whether placed or contained in an outdoor or portable cooking device, ring, pit, or otherwise, that is used for cooking, warmth, social gatherings, picnics, recreation and/or similar activities. § ... 13.03.020. ... Open campfires. Permit Required. No person shall set, ignite or maintain an open campfire without first obtaining a permit required under this article.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4915048; v22 updated 2026-05-19).
Full Breakdown
03 defines an open campfire as the setting, ignition or maintenance of a fire at an outdoor location on public property, excepting parks and open space areas, whether the fire is placed in an outdoor or portable cooking device, a ring, a pit, or otherwise, and used for cooking, warmth, social gatherings, picnics, recreation or similar activities. 020 makes the permit mandatory: no person may set, ignite or maintain an open campfire without first obtaining a permit under the article. 030 issues it only in conjunction with a street use or parade permit, with the fee folded into that permit's fee.
Only approved fuel, meaning propane, natural gas, charcoal or seasoned logs sized to fit the device, may be burned; burning yard waste, lumber, unseasoned logs, garbage or trash is barred outright. The police chief issues and can revoke the permit based on a public health, safety and welfare determination, no one under eighteen may hold one, and it must be obtained before the fire is set. A permit is not required for outdoor or portable cooking devices used for licensed commercial food sale, provided the operator follows all other applicable laws.
Violations & Fines
Section 13.03.050 makes a first or second violation within six months an infraction, punishable by a fine under California Government Code section 36900(b), with each day of violation a separate offense. A third violation within six months becomes a misdemeanor punishable by a fine or county jail time, or both, up to the limits in Government Code section 36901. Violations can also draw an administrative citation under Article 1.02, civil action, or abatement as a public nuisance through a court injunction.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit for a campfire in my Davis backyard?
What fuel can I legally burn in an open campfire in Davis?
What happens if I violate the open campfire rules more than once?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Davis
How Davis compares: Cities with the Strictest Outdoor Burning Rules·California rules heatmap·Compare Davis to another location·View the California fire regulations overview
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Outdoor Burning in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Yolo County handle outdoor burning.