Outdoor Burning: Castro Valley vs Fremont
How do outdoor burning rules compare between Castro Valley, CA and Fremont, CA?
Castro Valley and Fremont have similar restriction levels.
Castro Valley, CA
Alameda County
Outdoor open burning is essentially prohibited in Alameda County under BAAQMD Regulation 5 Rules 3 and 6. Agricultural and prescribed burns require district permits and are limited to designated burn days. Residential yard waste burning is not allowed.
View full Castro Valley rules →Fremont, CA
Alameda County
Open burning of yard waste is banned in Fremont. Only small recreational fires are allowed. BAAQMD Spare the Air alerts override all wood-burning permissions citywide.
View full Fremont rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Castro Valley | Fremont |
|---|---|---|
| Yard waste burning | Prohibited | - |
| Agricultural burn | BAAQMD permit required | - |
| Burn day rule | Permissive days only | - |
| Fire season enforcement | CAL FIRE PRC 4423 | - |
| VHFHSZ | East foothills extra rules | - |
| Yard Waste Burning | - | Banned (use green cart) |
| Recreational Fires | - | Allowed, 3 ft max |
| Spare the Air | - | No wood burning |
| First Offense Fine | - | 100 dollars (BAAQMD) |
| Gas or Propane | - | Exempt from alerts |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Castro Valley FAQ
Can I burn leaves in my backyard?
No. Residential open burning of yard waste and trash is prohibited under BAAQMD Regulation 5. Use the county green waste curbside program.
What is a permissive burn day?
A day BAAQMD declares atmospheric dispersion is good enough for limited agricultural or prescribed burning. Check the daily status before any permitted burn.
Fremont FAQ
How do I know if today is a Spare the Air day?
Check BAAQMD.gov, sign up for AirAlerts text notifications, or call 1-877-4NO-BURN. Alerts are issued the evening before and cover all nine Bay Area counties including Alameda.
Can I burn in a chiminea on a Spare the Air day?
No. Wood-burning chimineas, fire pits, pizza ovens, and fireplaces are all covered by the BAAQMD winter woodsmoke rule. Switch to gas or propane to stay legal year-round.
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