Outdoor Burning: Carson vs Lakewood
How do outdoor burning rules compare between Carson, CA and Lakewood, CA?
Carson and Lakewood have similar restriction levels.
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 →Lakewood, CA
Los Angeles County
Outdoor burning of yard waste and debris is generally prohibited in Lakewood. Regional air quality district rules apply. Agricultural burns may require permits.
View full Lakewood rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Carson | Lakewood |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | - |
| Yard Waste | - | Burning prohibited |
| AQMD | - | No-burn day restrictions |
| Agricultural | - | AQMD permit required |
| State Law | - | CA PRC §4423 |
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.
Lakewood FAQ
Can I burn yard waste?
No. Open burning is prohibited in most areas. Use green waste collection or composting.
What about a fire pit?
Recreational fires in approved containers are regulated separately under fire pit rules.
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