Outdoor Burning: Daly City vs San Mateo
How do outdoor burning rules compare between Daly City, CA and San Mateo, CA?
Daly City and San Mateo have similar restriction levels.
Daly City, CA
San Mateo County
Burning yard waste, trash, or debris outdoors is illegal in Daly City. The Bay Area Air Quality Management District's Regulation 5 bans nearly all open burning region-wide, and the few allowable burn types are agricultural or land-management fires that require a designated burn day.
View full Daly City rules →San Mateo, CA
San Mateo County
Open burning is banned in San Mateo under BAAQMD Regulation 5. Wood-burning devices (fireplaces, stoves, fire pits) are prohibited during Spare the Air Alerts under BAAQMD Regulation 6, Rule 3.
View full San Mateo rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Daly City | San Mateo |
|---|---|---|
| Yard waste burning | Prohibited region-wide | - |
| Air district rule | BAAQMD Regulation 5 (Open Burning) | - |
| Allowed burn types | Agricultural/land management only, on burn days | - |
| Local fire code | 2022 CFC adopted by DCMC 15.32.010 | - |
| Complaints | 1-877-4NO-BURN (BAAQMD) | - |
| Open Burning | - | Banned (BAAQMD Reg. 5) |
| Wood Devices | - | Banned on Spare the Air Alert days |
| New Homes | - | No wood-burning devices allowed |
| Authority | - | BAAQMD Reg. 5 & 6 Rule 3 |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Daly City FAQ
Can I burn leaves or garden trimmings in my Daly City yard?
No. BAAQMD Regulation 5 prohibits burning residential yard waste anywhere in the Bay Area, even with a notification form and fee. Yard waste must go in your green organics cart instead.
Is any open burning ever legal in Daly City?
Practically none for residents. The Air District's allowable burn types are agricultural and natural-resource management fires with set seasons, allowed only on designated burn days, and the fire code requires approval from the fire code official. Cooking fires in barbecue grills and code-compliant recreational fires are treated separately.
San Mateo FAQ
Can I burn yard waste in my backyard in San Mateo?
Open burning is banned in San Mateo under BAAQMD Regulation 5. Wood-burning devices (fireplaces, stoves, fire pits) are prohibited during Spare the Air Alerts under BAAQMD Regulation 6, Rule 3.
Do I need a permit for outdoor burning in San Mateo?
Open Burning: Banned (BAAQMD Reg. 5). Wood Devices: Banned on Spare the Air Alert days. New Homes: No wood-burning devices allowed. Authority: BAAQMD Reg. 5 & 6 Rule 3.
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