Outdoor Burning: Fremont vs San Leandro
How do outdoor burning rules compare between Fremont, CA and San Leandro, CA?
Fremont and San Leandro have similar restriction levels.
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 →San Leandro, CA
Alameda County
Open outdoor burning is banned in San Leandro under BAAQMD Regulation 5 and city fire code. Only approved recreational fires in contained pits are allowed.
View full San Leandro rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Fremont | San Leandro |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | - |
| Open Burning | - | Banned |
| Authority | - | BAAQMD Reg 5 |
| Spare Air | - | No wood fires |
| Fine | - | 500+ dollars |
| Rec Fires | - | Contained pits OK |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
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.
San Leandro FAQ
Can I burn leaves or yard waste in San Leandro?
No. BAAQMD bans all open burning of yard waste. Use green waste bins via Alameda County Industries.
Who enforces this in San Leandro?
San Leandro code enforcement at (510) 577-3394 handles most complaints. Alameda County agencies handle regional issues.
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