Outdoor Burning: Brentwood vs El Cerrito
How do outdoor burning rules compare between Brentwood, CA and El Cerrito, CA?
Brentwood and El Cerrito have similar restriction levels.
Brentwood, CA
Contra Costa County
Open burning is prohibited in Brentwood year-round. The East Contra Costa Fire Protection District (ECCFPD) enforces no-burn rules, and BAAQMD Regulation 5 further restricts outdoor combustion. Agricultural burning requires a CAL FIRE permit and a BAAQMD burn-day authorization, and residential yard-waste burning is not permitted.
View full Brentwood rules →El Cerrito, CA
Contra Costa County
Open burning is prohibited in unincorporated Contra Costa County except under a narrow set of agricultural or hazard-reduction permits. Residential yard waste burning is banned year-round under BAAQMD Regulation 5, and wood smoke advisories add further restrictions during winter Spare the Air alerts.
View full El Cerrito rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Brentwood | El Cerrito |
|---|---|---|
| - | - | |
| Residential yard waste burning | - | Banned year-round (BAAQMD Reg 5) |
| Permit authority | - | ConFire (CCCFPD) fire marshal |
| Winter wood-burn bans | - | Spare the Air alerts Nov 1 to Feb 28 |
| Illegal burn penalty | - | Up to $1,000 and 6 months jail (PRC 4423) |
| Ag burn days | - | Only on BAAQMD/CAL FIRE permissive days |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Brentwood FAQ
El Cerrito FAQ
Can I burn leaves in my yard in unincorporated Contra Costa?
No. Residential yard waste burning is prohibited year-round under BAAQMD Regulation 5, Rule 3. Leaves and green waste must go to curbside green-bin or composted on site.
What about a small recreational campfire?
Approved recreational fires under 3 feet wide and 2 feet tall, using clean seasoned wood, are generally allowed outside fire-restriction periods but may be banned during Red Flag Warnings and Spare the Air nights.
Who issues ag burn permits?
ConFire issues the local burn permit and you must also confirm a permissive burn day with BAAQMD before igniting.
Compare other topics
See how Brentwood and El Cerrito 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