Town Permit Guide

Home › California › Morro Bay › Burn Permits & Backyard Fires

Burn permits and fire pits in Morro Bay, California

Morro Bay, San Luis Obispo County · Ordinances checked 2026-10-05 · Reviewed · 8 cited sections

Restricted

Brush burning and open backyard fires are prohibited in Morro Bay. You can use a barbecue or an above-ground portable outdoor fireplace or fire pit, kept at least 15 feet from structures, no bigger than 3 feet across and 2 feet high, and with a spark arrestor unless it runs on gas or propane.

Open burning, bonfires, recreational firesProhibited [1]
ExceptionBarbecues and conforming portable outdoor fireplaces [1]
Distance from structures/combustiblesAt least 15 feet [2]
Max container size3 ft diameter, 2 ft high [3]
Spark arrestorRequired unless gas/propane; mesh openings 1/4 inch or less [4]
Banned fuelsGreen waste, yard trimmings, treated wood, trash, plastic [5]
In-ground fire pits / fire ringsProhibited [6]

What's banned

Morro Bay amended its Fire Code (Ch. 14.08) to add Section 308.1.1.1: open burning, bonfires, recreational fires and all other outdoor fires are prohibited [1]. That covers burning brush or yard waste and campfire-style backyard fires.

What's allowed: barbecues and portable fireplaces

The one exception is barbecues and portable outdoor fireplaces that meet these conditions [1]:

  • Keep the fire at a safe distance, following the manufacturer's instructions, to prevent spread to adjacent structures or other combustibles within at least 15 feet [2].
  • Contain the fire in a non-combustible container no larger than 3 feet in diameter and 2 feet high; fuel loading has the same limit [3].
  • Portable fireplaces and fire pits not fueled by natural gas or propane need a spark arrestor of wire mesh with openings of 1/4 inch or less [4].
  • Burn only propane, natural gas, charcoal, dried wood, commercial fire logs or pellets. Green waste, yard trimmings, pressure-treated wood, trash, plastic and other noxious materials are not allowed [5].
  • Ground fires, sub-surface or pit fires and earth-floored fire rings are prohibited [6], so a dug-in fire pit isn't allowed even if it's small.
  • The Fire Chief or designee can order any fire put out right away if it's potentially hazardous or the smoke is a nuisance [6].

County air district rules

The San Luis Obispo County Air Pollution Control District (APCD) separately requires a burn permit for all backyard burning, and only residences outside urban and village reserve lines qualify [7]. It also prohibits burning household waste and burn barrels countywide [8]. Inside Morro Bay, the city's fire code ban on open burning applies regardless.

Sky lanterns

Launching sky lanterns is also prohibited unless the Fire Chief issues a permit.

See how Morro Bay compares with 8+ other California towns on burn permits & backyard fires →

Next steps

  1. Don't burn brush or yard waste; use green-waste collection, chipping or composting instead.
  2. If you want a fire feature, buy an above-ground portable fireplace or fire pit no larger than 3 ft across and 2 ft high, with a 1/4-inch spark arrestor if it burns wood.
  3. Place it at least 15 feet from your house, fences and other combustibles, and burn only charcoal, dried wood, commercial logs, pellets, propane or natural gas.
  4. Questions about a specific fire feature go to the Morro Bay Fire Department.

Common questions

Can I burn yard waste in Morro Bay, California?
No. Morro Bay's fire code prohibits open burning, bonfires, recreational fires and all other outdoor fires, which covers burning brush or yard waste. Use green-waste collection, chipping or composting instead.
Are fire pits allowed in Morro Bay, California?
Only above-ground portable ones. A barbecue or portable outdoor fireplace or fire pit is allowed if kept at least 15 feet from structures, no bigger than 3 feet across and 2 feet high, and with a spark arrestor unless it runs on gas or propane.
Are in-ground fire pits allowed in Morro Bay, California?
No. Ground fires, sub-surface or pit fires and earth-floored fire rings are prohibited, so a dug-in fire pit isn't allowed even if it's small.
What can I burn in a fire pit in Morro Bay, California?
Only propane, natural gas, charcoal, dried wood, commercial fire logs or pellets. Green waste, yard trimmings, pressure-treated wood, trash and plastic are not allowed.

California rules on outdoor burning and fire pits

Outdoor burning is controlled mainly by your regional air district and CAL FIRE or your local fire agency, and city codes add more limits.

Statewide rules:

  • No trash burning: since January 1, 2004, a California Air Resources Board rule has banned burning household garbage outdoors at homes, and burn barrels can't be used, even for vegetation. Dry vegetation grown on the property may be burned in open piles unless local rules prohibit it, on days the air district allows.
  • Fire permits in wildland areas: in state responsibility areas and other areas CAL FIRE protects, burning brush or other vegetation needs a written permit during fire season, and at any time in some zones (Pub. Res. Code §4423).
  • Cooking and recreational fires are not covered by the state open-burning ban (Health & Safety Code §41806). Air districts can still restrict them.

Examples of air district rules (check yours):

  • Bay Area Air District: open burning is prohibited unless a specific exemption applies (Regulation 5). Recreational fires are allowed except during a Mandatory Burn Ban. During a Spare the Air Alert, it's illegal to burn wood in fireplaces, wood stoves or outdoor fire pits (Regulation 6, Rule 3).
  • South Coast AQMD: residential burning (burning a home's combustible waste on site) is banned (Rule 444). From November through February, declared No-Burn days bar indoor and outdoor wood-burning devices, including fire pits and chimineas (Rule 445), with some exemptions.

Other districts have their own burn-day systems; check yours and your city fire code.

State sources: CARB, Outdoor Residential Waste Burning · Pub. Res. Code §4423 (CAL FIRE burn permits) · Health & Safety Code §41806 (cooking and recreational fires) · Bay Area Air District, Regulation 5: Open Burning (amended Oct 1, 2025) · Bay Area Air District, 2025 wood burning rule amendments (news release) · South Coast AQMD Rule 444, Open Burning · South Coast AQMD Rule 445, Wood-Burning Devices

What the ordinance says

Exact text from Morro Bay's published ordinances. Section numbers are as printed in the source.

  1. Sec. 14.08.090(G), CFC Sec. 308.1.1.1, Municipal Code Title 14 Ch. 14.08 Fire Code (14.08.090 modifications; Sec. 308.1.1.1 burning prohibited), p. 1
    308.1.1.1 Burning Prohibited. Open burning, bon fires, recreational fires, and all other outdoor fires are prohibited. Exception: Barbeques and portable outdoor fireplaces that conform with the following provision are allowed.
  2. Sec. 14.08.090(G), CFC Sec. 308.1.1.1 Exception 1, Municipal Code Title 14 Ch. 14.08 Fire Code (14.08.090 modifications; Sec. 308.1.1.1 burning prohibited), p. 1
    1. Fires shall be conducted at a safe distance from and in accordance with the applicable manufacturer's instructions to prevent the spread of fire to a minimum of 15 feet from adjacent structures or other combustible materials.
  3. Sec. 14.08.090(G), CFC Sec. 308.1.1.1 Exception 2, Municipal Code Title 14 Ch. 14.08 Fire Code (14.08.090 modifications; Sec. 308.1.1.1 burning prohibited), p. 1
    2. Fire shall be contained in a non-combustible container, not to exceed 3 feet in diameter and 2 feet in height.
  4. Sec. 14.08.090(G), CFC Sec. 308.1.1.1 Exception 3, Municipal Code Title 14 Ch. 14.08 Fire Code (14.08.090 modifications; Sec. 308.1.1.1 burning prohibited), p. 1
    3. Portable fireplaces and fire pits not fueled by natural gas or propane must be equipped with a spark arrestor while in use. Spark arrestors shall be constructed of wire mesh with openings of ¼" or less.
  5. Sec. 14.08.090(G), CFC Sec. 308.1.1.1 Exception 5, Municipal Code Title 14 Ch. 14.08 Fire Code (14.08.090 modifications; Sec. 308.1.1.1 burning prohibited), p. 1
    Fuels shall not include green waste, yard trimmings, pressure treated wood, trash, plastic, or other noxious or hazardous materials.
  6. Sec. 14.08.090(G), CFC Sec. 308.1.1.1 Exceptions 6-7, Municipal Code Title 14 Ch. 14.08 Fire Code (14.08.090 modifications; Sec. 308.1.1.1 burning prohibited), p. 1
    6. Ground fires, sub-surface or pit fires, and earth floored fire rings are prohibited. 7. If in the opinion of the Fire Chief or his or her designee, a fire is potentially hazardous or smoke is causing a nuisance, the fire shall be extinguished immediately.
  7. SLO County APCD, Backyard Burning, San Luis Obispo County APCD - Burning rules page, p. 1
    All Backyard burning requires an APCD Burn Permit.
  8. SLO County APCD, Burning of Household Waste is Prohibited, San Luis Obispo County APCD - Burning rules page, p. 1
    The burning of household or residential waste and burning in burn barrels is prohibited in San Luis Obispo County.
This page summarizes Morro Bay's posted ordinances as of 2026-10-05. Ordinances are amended, and individual lots can have overlays, subdivision covenants, or HOA rules that are stricter. Confirm with City of Morro Bay Community Development Department - Building Division (Building Inspector/Code Enforcement Officer 805-772-6213), 955 Shasta Avenue; Harbor Department handles waterfront enforcement (805-772-6267) before you build. Spot an error?