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

Pomona's fire protection services are provided by the Los Angeles County Fire Department (LACoFD), which enforces the California Fire Code with LA County local amendments throughout the city. Recreational fires — small fires for pleasure, cooking, or warmth — are permitted in residential backyards when conducted in a commercially manufactured, UL-listed or equivalent fire pit, chiminea, or portable outdoor fireplace. The fuel area must not exceed 3 feet in diameter and flames must not exceed 2 feet in height. A minimum clearance of 10 feet must be maintained from any structure, fence, property line, overhead utility line, or combustible vegetation.

A responsible adult must attend the fire at all times and have a garden hose connected to a water supply or a minimum 2A:10BC-rated fire extinguisher within immediate reach. Burning is restricted to clean, dry, seasoned firewood or manufactured fire logs; burning of treated lumber, painted wood, garbage, plastics, or any non-wood material is prohibited. During SCAQMD mandatory no-burn days — typically declared during the November through February wood-burning season — all wood-burning recreational fires must be completely extinguished. Gas and propane fire features are exempt from no-burn day restrictions.

Open burning — the burning of yard waste, leaves, brush, construction debris, or any material in the open air without a contained appliance — is permanently prohibited in Pomona under both SCAQMD Rule 445 and the Pomona Municipal Code. The LA County Fire Department responds to reports of open burning and may issue citations. Pomona's relatively flat urban terrain does not include designated Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones, but the dry inland climate of the eastern San Gabriel Valley makes fire safety an ongoing concern, particularly during Santa Ana wind events.