Berkeley Backyard Fire Regulations Rules (2026): What You Need to Know

The City of Berkeley, located in Alameda County on the eastern shore of San Francisco Bay, experienced firsthand the catastrophic consequences of urban-wildland interface fires during the 1991 Oakland-Berkeley Hills firestorm. That fire destroyed approximately 60 homes on the Berkeley side, killed 25 people across both cities, and profoundly shaped Berkeley's fire prevention policies. The Berkeley Hills neighborhoods — including the Claremont, Panoramic Hill, Grizzly Peak, and Tilden-area communities — are designated as Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones (VHFHSZ) by CAL FIRE and are subject to the most restrictive outdoor fire regulations in the city.

Open burning of vegetation, yard waste, construction debris, trash, or any other material is prohibited year-round within all Berkeley city limits under Berkeley Municipal Code Title 19 (Fire Code) and the Berkeley Fire Department's administrative regulations. This prohibition applies in both the flatland neighborhoods (west of the hills) and the hillside areas. No residential burn permits are issued for open burning anywhere within the city.

Recreational fires — small fires for cooking, warmth, or ambiance in portable fire pits, chimineas, or permanently installed outdoor fireplaces — are permitted in flatland residential zones under the following conditions: the fire must be contained in an approved device no larger than 3 feet in diameter; the fire must be located at least 15 feet from any structure, fence, vegetation, or combustible material; the fire must be attended at all times by a responsible adult with a garden hose or fire extinguisher readily available; the fire must not produce excessive smoke that creates a nuisance for neighbors; and only clean, dry, untreated firewood or manufactured fire logs may be burned. Burning of trash, yard waste, treated lumber, painted wood, or any non-wood material is prohibited.

In the VHFHSZ areas of the Berkeley Hills, the Berkeley Fire Department may impose complete outdoor fire prohibitions during Red Flag Warning conditions declared by the National Weather Service, during high fire danger periods, and during Spare the Air days declared by BAAQMD. During these periods, all outdoor burning — including recreational fire pits and outdoor fireplaces — is prohibited regardless of the device or its location within the hillside zones.

BAAQMD Winter Spare the Air alerts prohibit wood-burning in indoor fireplaces and uncertified wood stoves as well as outdoor recreational fires throughout the nine-county Bay Area, including all of Berkeley. Gas and propane fire pits and fireplaces are exempt from the Spare the Air wood-burning restrictions but remain subject to Berkeley Fire Department Red Flag restrictions in the hillside zones.

Charcoal and gas barbecue grills used exclusively for cooking are generally exempt from recreational fire restrictions but must be operated safely, kept at least 10 feet from structures, and attended at all times. On balconies and patios of multi-family buildings with three or more units, only electric or gas grills are permitted — charcoal grills are prohibited on apartment or condominium balconies under the California Fire Code as adopted by Berkeley.