Outdoor Burn Permits Required In California

A valid burn permit is now required for outdoor open residential burning within most California counties, including Sacramento.  

The permit requirement includes all private residential outdoor burning of landscape and yard debris, such as branches, leaves and other dead vegetation. 

Cal Fire says burning trash, garbage, plastic and treated lumber is not allowed by local Air Quality Management Districts. 

Burn days are also regulated by the air districts. Before starting a burn, people are first required to check with their local district. 

Cal Fire says the agency has already responded to more wildfires this year than normal, and many of those fires have been debris burns that have gotten out of control. 

Permit requirements state that outdoor burning piles must be no larger than four feet in diameter. Clearance around the pile must be 10 feet in diameter and includes removing all material that will burn, down to bare soil. 

Along with Sacramento, other counties requiring burn permits include: Amador, Calaveras, El Dorado, Nevada, Placer, Sierra, Yuba, Solano, Yolo, Butte, San Joaquin and Stanislaus.

Cal Fire also says there are other ways to dispose of yard waste to reduce air pollution and fire risk.

• Chipping
• Composting/Mulching
• Curbside Pickup
• Greenwaste Facility  (many landfills have reduced rates for greenwaste)
• Biomass Energy Facility (CA State Map)