Outdoor Burning: Carson vs Downey
How do outdoor burning rules compare between Carson, CA and Downey, CA?
Downey has fewer restrictions than Carson.
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 →Downey, CA
Los Angeles County
Downey Municipal Code Chapter 3 (Fire Code) requires permits for recreational fires. Open burning is restricted by SCAQMD rules. Fires are prohibited before 7 AM and after 10 PM Sunday-Thursday or midnight Friday-Saturday.
View full Downey rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Carson | Downey |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | - |
| Code Section | - | Art. V, Ch. 3 (Fire Code) |
| Permit Required | - | Yes, from Fire Dept. |
| Weekday Cutoff | - | 7 AM start; 10 PM end (Sun-Thu) |
| Weekend Cutoff | - | 7 AM start; midnight end (Fri-Sat) |
| No-Burn Days | - | SCAQMD designated days |
| Fire Dept | - | (562) 904-7345 |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
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.
Downey FAQ
Can I have a fire pit in Downey?
Yes, but you need a permit from the Downey Fire Department. Fires are allowed after 7 AM and must end by 10 PM on weeknights or midnight on Friday/Saturday. No fires on SCAQMD no-burn days.
Can I burn yard waste in Downey?
No. Open burning of yard waste is prohibited by SCAQMD Rule 444. All green waste must be disposed of through regular waste collection.
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