Outdoor Burning: Sutter vs Yuba City
How do outdoor burning rules compare between Sutter, CA and Yuba City, CA?
Sutter has fewer restrictions than Yuba City.
Sutter, CA
Sutter County
Open burning in unincorporated Sutter County is regulated by the Feather River Air Quality Management District (FRAQMD) under Regulation II, Rule 2.0: a burn permit from the Air Pollution Control Officer is required for most open burning, burning is allowed only on designated burn days, and prohibited materials (garbage, plastics, construction debris, treated wood) may never be burned. Cooking and recreational fires and small residential vegetation burns on parcels under two acres are exempt from the District permit.
View full Sutter rules →Yuba City, CA
Sutter County
Open burning (non-recreational outdoor fires) inside Yuba City limits and in County Service Area-G requires a fire permit from the Yuba City Fire Department unless the burn qualifies as agricultural under a Feather River Air Quality Management District (FRAQMD) Ag Burn Permit. Open-burn sites must be at least 50 feet from any structure and constantly attended.
View full Yuba City rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Sutter | Yuba City |
|---|---|---|
| Permit authority | FRAQMD Air Pollution Control Officer; local fire district for fire-safety permits | - |
| Permit exemptions | Cooking/recreational fires; residential vegetation burns on parcels under 2 acres | - |
| Burn day status | Call (530) 741-6299 after 9:00 a.m. or check fraqmd.org | - |
| Structure clearance | 50 ft for open burning; 25 ft for piles 3 ft x 2 ft or less; 15 ft for approved appliances | - |
| Prohibited materials | Garbage, paper, cardboard, plastics, treated wood, construction debris, tires | - |
| Permit required | - | Yes - YCFD fire permit (or FRAQMD Ag Burn Permit for agriculture) |
| Minimum setback | - | 50 ft from any structure |
| Attendance | - | Constant until fully extinguished |
| Air district | - | Feather River AQMD - daily burn status required |
| Rubbish burning | - | Prohibited under CFC Section 307 and FRAQMD |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Sutter FAQ
Do I need a permit to burn debris in unincorporated Sutter County?
Most open burning requires a burn permit from the Feather River AQMD, and agricultural burns also need a burn allocation. Two exemptions apply: open fires for cooking or recreation, and burning a normal accumulation of vegetation at a one- or two-family residence on a parcel under two acres. Even when exempt from the District permit, you must follow residential burning rules, burn only on designated burn days, and check whether your local fire district requires its own fire-safety permit.
Can I burn on any day I choose?
No. Burning is allowed only on permissive burn days designated by the APCO and the California Air Resources Board. A permit is not valid on a No-Burn Day, and fire agencies can prohibit burning at any time for fire-safety reasons, such as red flag warnings. Call (530) 741-6299 after 9:00 a.m. to verify the day's status.
Can I bring material from another property to burn?
No. FRAQMD Rule 2.0 section I.11 requires that all vegetative material be burned on the property where it was grown; transporting material to another location to burn it is prohibited.
Yuba City FAQ
Can I burn yard waste in Yuba City?
Generally no for residential rubbish burning. Open burning inside city limits requires a YCFD fire permit unless the burn is agricultural with a Feather River AQMD Ag Burn Permit, and even then it must be on a permissive burn day and at least 50 feet from any structure.
Who issues burn permits in Yuba City?
The Yuba City Fire Department issues fire permits for open burning inside city limits and County Service Area-G. Agricultural burns require a separate Ag Burn Permit from Feather River Air Quality Management District. YCFD does not handle FRAQMD permits.
How do I know if today is a burn day?
Check Feather River AQMD's daily Burn Day Status at fraqmd.org/burn-day-status. Burning on a no-burn day is prohibited even if you hold an Ag Burn Permit.
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