Outdoor Burning: Carson vs Long Beach
How do outdoor burning rules compare between Carson, CA and Long Beach, CA?
Carson and Long Beach 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 →Long Beach, CA
Los Angeles County
Open burning is heavily restricted in Long Beach. South Coast AQMD regulates all outdoor burning. Wood burning may be banned on Spare the Air days.
View full Long Beach rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Carson | Long Beach |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | - |
| Regulator | - | SCAQMD + LBFD |
| Trash Burning | - | Prohibited |
| Spare the Air | - | Wood burning banned on no-burn days |
| Red Flag | - | All outdoor burning prohibited |
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.
Long Beach FAQ
Can I burn yard waste in my backyard in Long Beach?
Open burning is heavily restricted in Long Beach. South Coast AQMD regulates all outdoor burning. Wood burning may be banned on Spare the Air days.
Do I need a permit for outdoor burning in Long Beach?
Regulator: SCAQMD + LBFD. Trash Burning: Prohibited. Spare the Air: Wood burning banned on no-burn days. Red Flag: All outdoor burning prohibited.
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