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San Francisco, CA Fire Regulations: Outdoor Burning (2026)

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

Outdoor burning rules in San Francisco, 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

Permitting agency
San Francisco Fire Department
Governing section
Bus. & Tax Regs. Code § 1.16
Enacted
Ord. 274-64 (1964)
Coverage
Citywide/countywide, no exemptions listed

Summary

San Francisco requires a Fire Department permit before anyone ignites or maintains an open outdoor fire anywhere in the city and county, under the Business and Tax Regulations Code.

SEC. 1.16. OPEN OUTDOOR FIRES. For maintaining or igniting open outdoor fires – by the Fire Department. (Added by Ord. 274-64, App. 10/16/64)

Source: SF Fire DepartmentView official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-96: Codes: last updated to include changes made by legislation through Ordinance 133-26, File No. 260686, approved July 23, 2026, effective August 23, 2026).

Full Breakdown

San Francisco's Business and Tax Regulations Code, Article 1 (Permit Procedures), assigns permitting authority for regulated activities to specific departments. Section 1.16, "Open Outdoor Fires," gives the Fire Department sole authority to issue permits for maintaining or igniting open outdoor fires anywhere in the consolidated city and county. The provision has stood unchanged since it was added by Ord. 274-64 in 1964 and does not itself list size, duration, or fuel-type standards; those conditions are set by the Fire Department when it issues the permit.

Violations & Fines

Igniting or maintaining an open outdoor fire without first obtaining a Fire Department permit violates Business and Tax Regulations Code Article 1, Section 1.16, subjecting the responsible person to the code's general permit-violation penalties.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a permit for an open outdoor fire in San Francisco?
Yes. Business and Tax Regulations Code § 1.16 gives the Fire Department sole authority to permit maintaining or igniting any open outdoor fire in the city and county.
Which agency issues open-outdoor-fire permits in San Francisco?
The San Francisco Fire Department, under Business and Tax Regulations Code Article 1, Section 1.16, added by Ord. 274-64 in 1964 and never amended.

Sources & Official References

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All San Francisco rules

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

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