Outdoor Burning: Altadena vs Carson
How do outdoor burning rules compare between Altadena, CA and Carson, CA?
Altadena and Carson have similar restriction levels.
Altadena, CA
Los Angeles County
Open outdoor burning of vegetation is generally prohibited in unincorporated LA County. SCAQMD Rule 444 governs agricultural and rangeland burning; permits required from LA County Fire.
View full Altadena rules →Carson, CA
Los Angeles County
Open burning of yard waste, trash, or construction debris is prohibited. Carson sits inside the South Coast Air Quality Management District, where SCAQMD Rule 444 bans most open outdoor fires, and the California Fire Code §307 (adopted via LA County Title 32) requires LACoFD permission for any non-recreational open fire.
View full Carson rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Altadena | Carson |
|---|---|---|
| Code Section | LA Co. Fire Code Title 32 §307 + SCAQMD Rule 444 | - |
| Backyard Burning | Generally prohibited | - |
| Permit Required | Yes — from LA County Fire | - |
| Red Flag Days | All permits suspended | - |
| Open burning | - | Prohibited (SCAQMD Rule 444 + CFC §307.1 requires permit) |
| Recreational fire exception | - | Wood fire ≤3 ft × 2 ft, 25 ft from structures (CFC §307.4) |
| Burn barrels | - | Prohibited |
| No-burn days | - | SCAQMD Rule 445 — Nov 1 to Feb 28 'Check Before You Burn' |
| Penalty | - | AQMD civil penalty up to $1,000/day per HSC §42400 |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Altadena FAQ
Can I burn yard waste in Altadena?
No — open burning of vegetative waste in unincorporated LA County requires a permit and is generally prohibited by SCAQMD Rule 444 and LA County Fire Code.
Carson FAQ
Can I burn leaves in my yard in Carson?
No. SCAQMD Rule 444 prohibits open burning of yard waste anywhere in the South Coast Basin, which includes Carson. Yard waste must go in the city's green-waste collection.
Are bonfires allowed?
Only small recreational fires meeting California Fire Code §307.4 (≤3 ft diameter, 25 ft setback, attended, clean wood fuel). Larger bonfires require an open-burning permit from LACoFD, which is rarely granted in this air basin.
What is a no-burn day?
Under SCAQMD Rule 445, residential wood burning is banned on poor-air-quality days from November through February. Check arb.ca.gov or aqmd.gov for daily status before lighting a wood fire.
Compare other topics
See how Altadena and Carson compare on other ordinance categories.
Want to add a third city?
Use our full comparison tool to compare up to three cities.
Open Comparison Tool