Davis, CA Special Events & Permits: Outdoor Heater Rules (2026)

Section 27.02.130(c) provides that "No person using a park shall make or kindle a fire for any purpose," then lists two things that don't count as kindling a fire: ordinary commercial charcoal in a barbecue used to cook food, and "the permitted use, under the Downtown Outdoor Dining Program, of propane heaters or fire-top tables." Because downtown "civic spaces" and "urban open space" are legally classified as parks or open space under Section 27.01.010, this carve-out is what lets restaurants run patio heaters on public plazas without violating the park fire ban.

To rely on the exception, though, an operator still needs a Downtown Outdoor Dining License Agreement with the city under Section 40.14.120(d), must place the heaters within the eligible sidewalk zones set out in that section, and the heaters count as furnishings that must meet the Downtown Outdoor Dining Furnishing Standards and Guidelines, adopted and updated by city council resolution under Section 40.14.120(c). Outdoor dining agreements, including for heaters, that were signed before the November 2024 ordinance expire on July 1, 2026 under Section 40.14.120(e), so an operator's heater use has to be covered by a current license.