Outdoor Burning: Menifee vs Riverside
How do outdoor burning rules compare between Menifee, CA and Riverside, CA?
Menifee and Riverside have similar restriction levels.
Menifee, CA
Riverside County
Menifee sits inside the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) basin, where SCAQMD Rule 444 generally prohibits open outdoor fires for waste, agricultural debris, landscape clearing, or land development — without an AQMD permit. SCAQMD's Check Before You Burn program adds No-Burn Day alerts (Nov 1 – Feb 28) banning wood burning indoors and out. Menifee Fire Code Chapter 8.20 also lets the fire chief ban any open flame during elevated fire weather. There is effectively no legal pathway for residential trash, leaf, or yard-waste burning in Menifee.
View full Menifee rules →Riverside, CA
Riverside County
Open burning of trash or yard waste is prohibited in Riverside. Any open burn or bonfire requires both a Riverside Fire Department permit (24-hour advance notice) and compliance with South Coast AQMD Rule 444; no-burn days override any permit.
View full Riverside rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Menifee | Riverside |
|---|---|---|
| Open burning permit | Required from SCAQMD + local fire authority (Rule 444) | - |
| No-Burn season | Nov 1 – Feb 28 (residential wood) | - |
| Leaf/trash burning | Prohibited — no residential permits issued | - |
| Recreational fires | Allowed if compliant with CFC §307.4.2 | - |
| Check status | 1-866-966-3293 / aqmd.gov/cbyb | - |
| Red Flag | All open flame suspended | - |
| Trash/yard waste burning | - | Prohibited |
| Permit advance notice | - | 24 hours minimum |
| AQMD authority | - | SCAQMD Rules 444 & 445 |
| Adopted code | - | CFC §307 via RMC Ch. 16.32 |
| No-burn day check | - | AQMD.gov / 1-800-CUT-SMOG |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Menifee FAQ
Can I burn leaves or yard waste in my backyard?
No. Residential open burning of leaves, yard waste, or trash is prohibited throughout the South Coast Air Basin under SCAQMD Rule 444. Use the city's green waste collection instead.
How do I know if today is a No-Burn Day?
Check aqmd.gov/cbyb or call 1-866-966-3293 (1-866-9NOBURN). Alerts are issued daily Nov 1 – Feb 28 and apply to all wood, pellet, and manufactured-log burning indoors and outdoors.
Do BBQ grills or gas patio heaters count as open burning?
No. Cooking fires in approved appliances and gas-fueled patio heaters are exempt from Rule 444 and from No-Burn Day restrictions, though they still cannot be used during Red Flag warnings if the fire chief issues a suspension.
Riverside FAQ
Can I burn leaves or yard trimmings in my backyard?
No. Open burning of yard waste, trash, or rubbish is prohibited under the adopted Fire Code and South Coast AQMD rules. Use green-waste collection instead.
Is a charcoal or gas barbecue covered by this rule?
No. Cooking fires in approved BBQ devices are not 'open burning' under CFC §307. They must still be kept 15 feet from structures.
Who issues an open-burn permit in Riverside?
The City of Riverside Fire Department Prevention Division. Submit a permit application and site plan at least 24 hours before ignition; the permit may be denied due to weather, air-quality conditions, or fire season restrictions.
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