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Residential Burn Permits: What You Need to Know
If you plan to burn vegetative debris on your property, you must obtain a burn permit. Burn permits are available online at burnpermit.fire.ca.gov. Permits are no longer issued in person at our fire stations.
Burn Pile Size & Additional Permits
- 4' x 4' or smaller: A standard residential burn permit is required.
- Larger than 4' x 4': You must obtain a permit from the El Dorado County Air Quality Management District (AQMD) at 330 Fair Lane, Placerville, CA 95667. Phone #: 530.621.6662.
When Can You Burn?
Burning is only allowed on designated Burn Days. Before lighting your pile, check the Burn Day status by:
- Visiting the Air Quality Control website
- Calling 530.621.5897 or 866.621.5897
What Can Be Burned?
- Allowed: Tree trimmings, vines, brush, leaves, lawn clippings, and dry plants collected from your property.
- Prohibited: Stumps, poison oak, household garbage, plastics, treated lumber, tires, insulation, paints, and other toxic materials.
- Burn barrels are banned
Safe Burning Guidelines
- Max pile size: 4 feet in diameter
- Clearance: 10 feet around the pile must be free of flammable materials
- Supervision: A responsible adult with a shovel must be present until the fire is out
- Water supply: Must be available at the burn site
- Weather conditions: Burning should only occur when it is safe to do so, especially considering wind conditions
- Approved materials only: Only vegetation and natural yard debris may be burned — no household trash or garbage may be burned outdoors at residences
- Smoke reduction: To minimize smoke impacts, burn only between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., when smoke dispersion conditions are typically best
Important: Violating burn permit terms is a violation of state law (Public Resources Code 4421-4425). If a fire escapes control, you may be liable for suppression costs (Health & Safety Code 13009).
For questions, contact the Fire Prevention/Community Risk/Community Relations Division at 916.933.6623.
Additional Resources:
- Informational Bulletin for Residential Burn Pile Requirements
- Burn Permit Guide
- How To Safely Burn Debris and Get Your Burn Permit
- Debris Burning Safety Rules
- Debris Burning Flyer
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