Outdoor Burning: Petaluma vs Sonoma
How do outdoor burning rules compare between Petaluma, CA and Sonoma, CA?
Petaluma and Sonoma have similar restriction levels.
Petaluma, CA
Sonoma County
Open burning in Petaluma is regulated by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District and the fire department; residential yard-waste burning is generally prohibited and barred on Spare the Air days. Wildfire risk drives strict enforcement.
View full Petaluma rules →Sonoma, CA
Sonoma County
Open burning of yard waste, brush, leaves, or trash is prohibited inside the City of Sonoma. The city is a Local Responsibility Area (LRA) where Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) rules and SVFD policy disallow residential vegetation pile burning; burn permits are only issued for unincorporated/State Responsibility Area (SRA) properties.
View full Sonoma rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Petaluma | Sonoma |
|---|---|---|
| Authority | BAAQMD / fire dept. | - |
| Yard Waste | Generally prohibited | - |
| Spare the Air | Burning barred | - |
| Context | Wildfire risk | - |
| Open burning in city limits | - | Prohibited (BAAQMD Reg. 5) |
| Burn permits available? | - | Only outside city in SRA (CAL FIRE) or LRA-Ag (BAAQMD) |
| Recreational fire exception | - | Yes – CFC §307.4.2 (≤3 ft / ≤2 ft, 25 ft setback) |
| Cooking fires exception | - | Yes – charcoal grills, gas grills allowed |
| Burn day hotline | - | 1-800-792-0787 (BAAQMD) |
| Max civil penalty | - | $10,000/day (Cal. H&S §42402) |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Petaluma FAQ
No FAQs available.
Sonoma FAQ
Can I burn leaves and yard waste in my backyard in Sonoma?
No. The City of Sonoma is in the Bay Area Air Quality Management District where residential open burning of leaves and yard debris is prohibited under BAAQMD Regulation 5. Use the City's green-waste curbside collection instead, or take debris to the Sonoma County Central Disposal Site.
Are recreational campfires or backyard fire pits allowed?
Yes, recreational fires that meet California Fire Code §307.4.2 (under 3 ft diameter / 2 ft height, at least 25 ft from any structure, attended at all times with a water source nearby) are allowed. Propane or natural-gas fire pits are also permitted. Pile burning of yard waste is not.
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