Outdoor Burning: Santa Clara vs Sunnyvale
How do outdoor burning rules compare between Santa Clara, CA and Sunnyvale, CA?
Santa Clara and Sunnyvale have similar restriction levels.
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 →Sunnyvale, CA
Santa Clara County
Open burning of yard waste, trash, and construction debris is prohibited in Sunnyvale. BAAQMD Regulation 5 bans agricultural and residential burning across the Bay Area including Santa Clara County.
View full Sunnyvale rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Santa Clara | Sunnyvale |
|---|---|---|
| Yard waste burn | Prohibited by BAAQMD | - |
| Trash burning | Illegal citywide | Prohibited |
| Recreational fire | Under 3 ft fuel area allowed | - |
| Clearance | 10 ft minimum from structures | - |
| Air alerts | No wood burning during Spare the Air | - |
| Yard waste burning | - | Prohibited |
| Disposal option | - | Organics cart or SMaRT Station |
| Air district rule | - | BAAQMD Regulation 5 |
| Exceptions | - | Permitted recreational or training only |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
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.
Sunnyvale FAQ
Can I burn leaves in the fall in Sunnyvale?
No, all yard waste burning is banned. Place leaves and branches in your organics cart for weekly collection.
Are recreational cooking fires allowed?
Yes, approved grills and BBQ appliances are permitted, but you cannot burn yard debris under the guise of cooking.
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