Outdoor Burning: Palo Alto vs Santa Clara
How do outdoor burning rules compare between Palo Alto, CA and Santa Clara, CA?
Palo Alto and Santa Clara have similar restriction levels.
Palo Alto, CA
Santa Clara County
Open burning of yard waste, trash, or land-clearing debris is prohibited in Palo Alto. Only small recreational wood or charcoal fires in approved devices are allowed, and those are banned on Spare-the-Air days.
View full Palo Alto rules →Santa Clara, CA
Santa Clara County
Open burning of yard waste, trash, or construction debris is prohibited in Santa Clara. Only small recreational fires and permitted cooking fires are allowed, subject to BAAQMD air rules.
View full Santa Clara rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Palo Alto | Santa Clara |
|---|---|---|
| Yard waste burning | Prohibited | - |
| Trash burning | Prohibited | Illegal citywide |
| Recreational fires | Allowed with conditions | - |
| Red flag bans | May suspend all outdoor fires | - |
| Enforcement | Palo Alto Fire Department | - |
| Yard waste burn | - | Prohibited by BAAQMD |
| Recreational fire | - | Under 3 ft fuel area allowed |
| Clearance | - | 10 ft minimum from structures |
| Air alerts | - | No wood burning during Spare the Air |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Palo Alto FAQ
Can I burn yard waste in my backyard?
No. Yard waste must be composted or placed in the city green waste cart for collection.
Are patio heaters and pizza ovens allowed?
Yes, gas and propane appliances are allowed and are exempt from Spare-the-Air wood-burning restrictions.
Santa Clara FAQ
Can I burn leaves in my backyard?
No. BAAQMD bans burning yard waste in Santa Clara. Use green waste curbside collection instead.
Is a chiminea considered open burning?
A chiminea or manufactured fire pit used recreationally is treated differently from open burning, but is still subject to Spare the Air Alert bans on wood fuel.
Compare other topics
See how Palo Alto and Santa Clara compare on other ordinance categories.
Want to add a third city?
Use our full comparison tool to compare up to three cities.
Open Comparison Tool