Union City, CA Fire Regulations: Wildfire Zones (2026)
Key Facts
- Banned zone
- East of Mission Boulevard
- Cited hazards
- Dry vegetation, wood-shake roofs
- Access risk
- Dead-end streets limit evacuation
- Overlaps
- Hillside Combining District (Ch. 18.96)
- Penalty
- Up to $1,000 per violation
Summary
Union City bans discharging even legal "safe and sane" fireworks anywhere east of Mission Boulevard, citing dry summer vegetation, wood-frame homes, wood shake roofs, and limited evacuation routes in that hillside area.
Any area east of Mission Boulevard. This prohibition is justified by virtue of the higher fire danger in this area because the area: (a) has impacted ingress and egress due to dead end streets and limited entry/exit routes; (b) contains significant amounts of dry vegetation during the summer months when fireworks use is prevalent; (c) has mostly wood frame structures, in close proximity to each other; (d) contains slopes which make it difficult to do complete weed abatement; (e) contains structures intertwined with hazardous wild land areas; (f) contains many wood shake roofs (with high fire danger) in the residential areas.
7. Dates and Hours of Use. It is unlawful for any person to use, discharge, or explode safe and sane fireworks except during the hours of eight a.m. to ten p.m. on the days during which such Safe and Sane Fireworks may be sold pursuant to applicable regulations.
C. Parks Closures on the Fourth of July. All City parks shall close at seven-thirty p.m. on the Fourth of July, except for City sponsored public fireworks displays. (Ord. 890-21 § 2, 2021)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4940544; v16 updated 2026-06-23).
Full Breakdown
Section 7.26.060(B)(6) singles out the area east of Mission Boulevard for a total fireworks ban, listing dead-end streets that limit ingress/egress, dry vegetation, closely spaced wood-frame structures, slopes that hamper weed abatement, terrain intertwined with wildland, and wood shake roofs as the reasons. That geography largely overlaps the Hillside Combining District (Chapter 18.96), which separately requires development review to consider wildfire access hazards in the same hillside area.
Violations & Fines
Discharging any fireworks, including otherwise-legal safe and sane fireworks, east of Mission Boulevard is a misdemeanor under Chapter 7.26, fined up to $1,000 per violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are fireworks banned only east of Mission Boulevard?
Does the ban include City-approved fireworks?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Union City
California rules heatmap·Compare Union City to another location·View the California fire regulations overview
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Wildfire Zones in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Alameda County handle wildfire zones.