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

Santa Monica adopts the California Fire Code (CFC) with local amendments, and CFC Section 307 governs open burning. Within city limits, all uncontained open burning — burning piles of leaves, yard debris, wood scraps, or any other material on bare ground — is prohibited regardless of SCAQMD burn day status. This prohibition applies to all residential, commercial, and industrial properties within the Santa Monica city boundary. Only contained recreational fires in approved fire pits, metal fire rings, or similar enclosed devices are permitted for residential outdoor burning.

For permitted recreational fires, the CFC and local fire code require a minimum 10-foot clearance from all structures, including the residence itself, fences, accessory structures, and neighboring property lines. The fuel area must not exceed 3 feet in diameter, and the fire must not exceed 2 feet in height above the container. A responsible adult must be present and in attendance at all times while the fire is burning, and adequate extinguishing equipment — a connected garden hose, a bucket of water, or a bucket of sand — must be immediately available. The fire must be completely extinguished before being left unattended. Wood-burning fires are additionally prohibited on any day that SCAQMD declares a mandatory no-burn day. The Santa Monica Fire Department may issue additional outdoor burning restrictions during Red Flag Warning conditions.