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

Heaters and misters used to moderate temperature on a restaurant or bar's outdoor dining area fall under the same general-requirements subsection of FMC 15-2744 that sets the section's hours-of-operation table and lighting standards. Rather than listing wattage limits, fuel types, or a permitted season, subsection (A)(3) hands the decision to the Review Authority, the same official or body that reviews the underlying outdoor dining application, who weighs aesthetics, safety, and resource efficiency before signing off on proposed heaters or misters. within 100 feet of housing), and any outdoor lighting, including heater-mounted fixtures, must also satisfy Section 15-2015's outdoor lighting and illumination standards so it doesn't spill onto neighboring properties.

Because the approval runs through the same Zone Clearance or Conditional Use Permit process as the outdoor dining area itself, an operator adding heaters after the fact typically needs to bring the request back to whichever Review Authority approved the original patio, rather than installing them administratively.