Outdoor Burning: Carson vs Los Angeles
How do outdoor burning rules compare between Carson, CA and Los Angeles, CA?
Carson and Los Angeles 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 →Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles County
Open burning of trash, yard waste, and debris is prohibited in Los Angeles. South Coast AQMD governs. Recreational fires in approved containers may be allowed but subject to Spare the Air restrictions.
View full Los Angeles rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Carson | Los Angeles |
|---|---|---|
| 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 + LAFD |
| Trash/Debris Burning | - | Prohibited |
| Spare the Air | - | Wood burning banned on no-burn days |
| Red Flag Warning | - | 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.
Los Angeles FAQ
Can I burn yard waste in my backyard in los Angeles?
Open burning of trash, yard waste, and debris is prohibited in Los Angeles. South Coast AQMD governs. Recreational fires in approved containers may be allowed but subject to Spare the Air restrictions.
Do I need a permit for outdoor burning in los Angeles?
Regulator: SCAQMD + LAFD. Trash/Debris Burning: Prohibited. Spare the Air: Wood burning banned on no-burn days. Red Flag Warning: All outdoor burning prohibited.
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