A. 
The city council finds that uncontrolled outdoor fires threaten life, property, and the environment.
B. 
Open burning contributes to wildfire risk, diminished air quality, and resource burdens on the fire department and police department.
C. 
This chapter is intended to regulate or prohibit open fires in a manner consistent with the California Fire Code, local Air Quality Management District regulations, and state law.
(Ord. 475 § 1, 2025)
For purposes of this chapter:
A. 
"Designated fire area"
means a location specifically approved and posted by the Fire Department for use of open flames under prescribed conditions.
B. 
"No-Burn Day"
means any day designated by the South Coast Air Quality Management District under applicable regulations on which open burning is prohibited.
C. 
"Open fire" or "open burning"
means any fire where products of combustion are emitted directly to the atmosphere and not through an approved chimney, stack, or appliance.
D. 
"Portable outdoor fireplace"
means a portable, outdoor, solid-fuel burning fireplace designed and manufactured for outdoor use, including chimineas, patio fire pits, and similar devices.
E. 
"Recreational fire"
means an outdoor fire burning materials other than rubbish, with a total fuel area of three feet or less in diameter and two feet or less in height, used for pleasure, religious, ceremonial, cooking, warmth, or similar purposes.
F. 
"Red Flag Warning" or "Fire Weather Watch"
means an alert issued by the National Weather Service indicating critical fire weather conditions.
(Ord. 475 § 1, 2025)
A. 
No person shall ignite, kindle, cause to be kindled, or maintain an open fire in any public place, public right-of-way, vacant lot, hillside, canyon, or undeveloped property within the city.
B. 
No person shall burn rubbish, waste, construction debris, yard clippings, or other prohibited materials at any location within the city.
C. 
No person shall operate a portable outdoor fireplace or recreational fire during a Red Flag Warning, Fire Weather Watch, or No-Burn Day.
(Ord. 475 § 1, 2025)
This chapter does not apply to:
A. 
Cooking devices such as gas, propane, or electric grills, or charcoal grills with fitted lids and spark-control features, operated at least ten feet from combustible material.
B. 
Approved portable outdoor fireplaces that are used in compliance with manufacturer's instructions, with a spark arrestor screen, maximum fuel area of three feet in diameter, ten feet clearance from structures or combustibles, constant attendance, and immediate extinguishment upon order of Fire Department personnel, peace officer, or code enforcement personnel.
C. 
Recreational fires are allowed if expressly permitted by the Fire Department, not larger than three feet in diameter and two feet in height, fueled only with clean, dry wood or charcoal, with fire-extinguishing equipment within ten feet, and constant attendance by a responsible adult.
D. 
Fires set pursuant to a written permit issued by the fire chief, or their designee, for public safety training, cultural or religious ceremonies, film production, or other approved activities, subject to conditions.
E. 
Fires set or maintained by public agencies in the course of firefighting, rescue, or training operations.
(Ord. 475 § 1, 2025)
A. 
Misdemeanor. Unless charged or reduced as an infraction under Subsection B, a violation of this chapter is a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in county jail, a fine of up to one thousand dollars ($1,000.00), or both.
B. 
Reduction or charging as infraction. In the interests of justice, the city attorney may in their discretion (1) file a violation of this chapter as an infraction, or (2) move to reduce a misdemeanor charge under this chapter to an infraction at any time before judgment. The fine for the first violation shall be one hundred dollars ($100.00); second violation within one year shall be two hundred dollars ($200.00); each additional violation within one year shall be five hundred dollars ($500.00), unless the city council has adopted a different infraction fine schedule.
C. 
Officer discretion; warnings. Nothing in this chapter limits an officer's discretion to issue a warning in lieu of citation or to refer eligible persons to available social-services resources.
D. 
Continuing violation. Each act in violation of this chapter is a separate offense. Where a single course of conduct constitutes multiple acts, each act may be charged separately.
(Ord. 475 § 1, 2025)
A. 
The city may recover actual and reasonable suppression, investigation, and remediation costs from any person convicted of or liable for violating this chapter.
B. 
A violation of this chapter constitutes a public nuisance and may be abated by the city.
C. 
The fire department, sheriff's department, or code enforcement may immediately extinguish or cause the extinguishment of any prohibited fire. Equipment used in violation may be temporarily seized when necessary to abate an imminent threat to public safety, subject to post-seizure notice.
(Ord. 475 § 1, 2025)