Skip to main content
CityRuleLookup

Oxnard, CA Fire Regulations: Outdoor Burning (2026)

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

Outdoor burning rules in Oxnard, 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

Governing section
Oxnard Code of Ordinances Sec. 14-22(A)
Amends
Fire Code Sec. 405.2
Ban covers
All open burning and smoking
Zone basis
Fire Hazard Severity Zone map, Sec. 14-40
Companion rule
No open flame on roads, Sec. 405.5
Signage required
Posted at all times

Summary

Sec. 14-22(A) of the Oxnard Code of Ordinances adds Fire Code Section 405.2, banning all open burning and smoking inside the city's Fire Hazard Severity Zones, with mandatory warning signs posted at all times. A related Section 405.5 bars any open flame or self-contained flame-producing device on roads, streets, or fire roads within those zones.

405.2. Posting of Signs Prohibiting Smoking and Burning. There shall be no open burning or smoking in the Fire Hazard Severity Zones. The Fire Code Official shall cause such districts to be posted at all times by suitable signs giving notice thereof.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Contains Supplement current through 1-26-2026).

Full Breakdown

Article XV of Chapter 14, added by Sec. 1, specific to Oxnard. 1 ties the ban to the zone map established under Article XIX, Section 14-40 of the Oxnard City Code, and lets the Fire Code Official relocate a zone's boundary line administratively whenever new streets, lots, or building sites are carved out of undeveloped land that overlaps the old boundary. 2: there shall be no open burning or smoking in the Fire Hazard Severity Zones, and the Fire Code Official must cause such districts to be posted at all times by suitable signs giving notice of the prohibition.

6 separately makes it unlawful for any person to light, ignite or smoke any cigar, cigarette, tobacco in a pipe or other smoldering substance there. 1.

Violations & Fines

Open burning, smoking, or carrying a lit flame-producing device inside a posted Fire Hazard Severity Zone is a code violation under Sec. 1-10: a general misdemeanor punishable by up to a $1,000 fine and six months in jail, or, at the city attorney's discretion, an infraction running $100 for a first offense to $500 for a third or later violation within a year, with each day of the violation charged as a separate offense.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I have a campfire or burn pile in an Oxnard Fire Hazard Severity Zone?
No. Section 405.2, added by Sec. 14-22(A), states flatly that there shall be no open burning or smoking in the Fire Hazard Severity Zones. The Fire Code Official is required to post signs in those zones giving notice of the ban.
Is smoking a cigarette outdoors banned in these zones too?
Yes. Section 405.6 makes it unlawful to light, ignite or smoke any cigar, cigarette, tobacco in a pipe or other form of smoldering substance anywhere within a Fire Hazard Severity Zone, separate from the general open-burning ban in Section 405.2.
Where are Oxnard's Fire Hazard Severity Zones mapped?
Section 405.1 ties the ban to the Fire Hazard Severity Zone map established under Article XIX, Section 14-40 of the Oxnard City Code, and lets the Fire Code Official adjust the boundary administratively when new streets or lots are carved out of overlapping undeveloped land.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Oxnard

All Oxnard rules

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

Get notified when Outdoor Burning in Oxnard, CA changes

We'll email you the moment we detect a change in the code. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

We'll never sell or share your email. One-click unsubscribe in every email.

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 Ventura County handle outdoor burning.

Ventura, CA
Some Restrictions
Moorpark, CA
Heavy Restrictions
Thousand Oaks, CA
Heavy Restrictions
Camarillo, CA
Heavy Restrictions