How Far Should a Fire Pit be from a House in California, USA

How Far Should a Fire Pit be from a House in California – Codes and Regulations

California Fire Pit Regulations: Distance from House

Outdoor Firepit

Statewide Regulations (California Fire Code, 2022 Edition)

California adopts the International Fire Code (IFC) with amendments in Title 24, Part 9, enforced statewide but often amended locally. Fire pits are classified as outdoor fireplaces, fire rings, or recreational fires (open flames ≤3 ft diameter, ≤2 ft height, not in grills or pits). Below are the key statewide provisions:

Code/Section	Regulation Summary	Minimum Distance from House/Structure
CFC §307.6.2 (Outdoor Fireplaces/Fire Pits)	Permanent wood/solid fuel fireplaces must have spark arresters and chimneys; portable units with spark arresters allowed in residential (R) occupancies. Prohibited within fuel modification zones or wildland-urban interface (WUI) areas without approval.	25 ft from combustible structures/vegetation unless in approved permanent fireplace; portable with spark arrester: 3 ft (R-3 single-family) or 15 ft (other R occupancies).
CFC §307.4.2 (Recreational Fires)	Uncontained open fires for pleasure/cooking; must eliminate fire spread risks.	25 ft from structures or combustibles.
CFC §307.4.3 (Bonfires)	Larger open fires (>3 ft diameter).	50 ft from structures unless in barbecue pit; 25 ft for small piles (≤3 ft diameter, ≤2 ft height).
PRC §4291 (Defensible Space)	State law requires 100 ft defensible space around structures in SRA (State Responsibility Areas); fire pits must not compromise this.	Indirectly: 5 ft (Zone 0) to 100 ft clearance zones; fire pits often restricted in high-fire zones.

Source Notes: Based on California Building Standards Commission adoption; local amendments common (e.g., no wood burning in WUI without permits).

County and Local Regulations

California’s 58 counties and numerous municipalities adopt the CFC with local amendments, often via fire districts. Below are examples from major areas, focusing on residential setbacks. Always verify with your local fire authority, as rules vary by fire hazard severity (e.g., stricter in high-risk zones).

Jurisdiction	Code/Ordinance	Regulation Summary	Minimum Distance from House/Structure
Los Angeles County (Unincorporated; serves 59 cities + 1 in Orange Co.)	LACoFC §307.6 (Open Fires); Municipal Code Title 32	Recreational fires/portable fire pits allowed with spark arresters; gas/propane exempt from some rules but require permits if fixed. No wood burning on no-burn days (SCAQMD Rule 444).	25 ft for recreational/wood fires; 15 ft for portable spark-arrested pits; 10-20 ft general recommendation in some areas (varies by city, e.g., stricter in wildfire zones).
San Diego County (Consolidated Fire Code, 8th Ed.)	SDCFC §307.6; Ordinance 9111	Recreational fires in approved pits; portable gas units easier. Permits for permanent installs; air quality via SDAPCD (no bans currently, but nuisance smoke cited).	25 ft for open recreational fires; 15 ft for portable/approved outdoor fireplaces from structures/combustibles.
Orange County (Varies by city; e.g., Dana Point §8.24)	OCFC amendments to CFC §307; SCAQMD “Check Before You Burn”	Gas/propane preferred (exempt from burn bans); wood restricted Nov-Feb. Placement rules differ by city (e.g., Irvine: 10 ft min).	10-30 ft from house/property line; 25 ft for wood in-ground pits; check local (e.g., Anaheim: gas 10 ft, wood 25 ft).
San Francisco County/City	SFFC (adopts 2019 CFC); BAQMD Rule 421	Gas/propane allowed with ANSI certification; wood banned on Spare the Air days (Nov-Feb); no local fire pit bans, but permits for fixed gas. Beach fires in rings only.	Follows CFC: 25 ft for recreational; 15 ft portable; 10-20 ft general (NFPA guideline); zoning setbacks for permanent (e.g., 5-10 ft from property lines).
Sacramento County (Metro Fire District)	Sac Metro Rule 421; SCCO amendments	Recreational fires allowed outside Nov-Feb burn season; gas exempt. Permits for burns; exemptions for sole heat source.	25 ft for open fires; 15 ft portable spark-arrested; 10-20 ft recommended; prohibited in high-hazard zones without clearance.
Aliso Viejo (Orange Co. city)	AVC §13.04 (2022 CFC amendments)	Portable pits with spark arresters; no wood in WUI.	25 ft general; 3 ft (R-3); 15 ft other residential.
Corona (Riverside Co., near Orange)	Corona MC §15.12.110 (§307.6)	Similar to state; prohibited in fuel zones.	25 ft; 15 ft portable; 3 ft single-family with arrester.
San Bernardino County Fire Protection District	SBCFPD Outdoor Fire Safety	Recreational: ≤3×2 ft; BBQ pits for cooking; permits for larger. Prohibited in wildfire risk areas.	25 ft recreational; 20 ft BBQ pits; 15 ft portable fireplaces; 50 ft bonfires.
Big Bear (San Bernardino Co.)	Big Bear FD Rules	Wood pits require permits (3-month validity); gas easier.	25 ft wood; 4 ft gas/BBQ from structures.

Key Variations and Tips

High-Fire Zones: In WUI areas (e.g., much of LA/Orange/San Diego counties), add 5-50 ft buffers; check CAL FIRE maps.
Gas vs. Wood: Gas/propane often 10-15 ft (easier permits); wood stricter due to SCAQMD/BAQMD/SDAPCD bans.
Permits: $50-200+ for burns/installs; always call local fire dept. (e.g., LA Co. Fire: 323-881-2411).
Enforcement: Fines $50-1,000+ for violations; use spark screens, keep extinguisher nearby.

For site-specific advice, contact your local fire district (e.g., via calfire.ca.gov) or check municipal codes on qcode.us or municode.com. Regulations update annually—verify as of 2025.