Outdoor Burning: Berkeley vs Fremont
How do outdoor burning rules compare between Berkeley, CA and Fremont, CA?
Berkeley and Fremont have similar restriction levels.
Berkeley, CA
Alameda County
Berkeley bans all outdoor burning of vegetation, yard waste, and debris. BAAQMD and BMC 9.24 prohibit open burning citywide; no burn permits are issued for residential properties.
View full Berkeley rules →Fremont, CA
Alameda County
Open burning of yard waste is banned in Fremont. Only small recreational fires are allowed. BAAQMD Spare the Air alerts override all wood-burning permissions citywide.
View full Fremont rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Berkeley | Fremont |
|---|---|---|
| Residential burning | Prohibited year-round | - |
| Burn permits | Not issued | - |
| BAAQMD fine | Up to 10,000 dollars/day | - |
| Green waste | Weekly curbside cart | - |
| Report | 1-800-334-ODOR | - |
| Yard Waste Burning | - | Banned (use green cart) |
| Recreational Fires | - | Allowed, 3 ft max |
| Spare the Air | - | No wood burning |
| First Offense Fine | - | 100 dollars (BAAQMD) |
| Gas or Propane | - | Exempt from alerts |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Berkeley FAQ
Can I burn a small pile of leaves?
No. Even a small pile violates BAAQMD Regulation 5 and BMC 9.24. Use your green waste cart or the transfer station. Fines start at several hundred dollars.
What about burning brush during vegetation management?
Not allowed. Berkeley requires chipping, hauling, or composting. BFD hosts free chipper days each spring for hillside residents.
Fremont FAQ
How do I know if today is a Spare the Air day?
Check BAAQMD.gov, sign up for AirAlerts text notifications, or call 1-877-4NO-BURN. Alerts are issued the evening before and cover all nine Bay Area counties including Alameda.
Can I burn in a chiminea on a Spare the Air day?
No. Wood-burning chimineas, fire pits, pizza ovens, and fireplaces are all covered by the BAAQMD winter woodsmoke rule. Switch to gas or propane to stay legal year-round.
Compare other topics
See how Berkeley and Fremont 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