Plumas County, CA Fire Regulations: Backyard Fires (2026)

In the State Responsibility Area that covers most of Plumas County, outdoor recreational and backyard burning is governed by CAL FIRE's Lassen-Modoc Unit and the Northern Sierra Air Quality Management District. A free CAL FIRE burn permit (from burnpermit.fire.ca.gov) is required for residential debris and dooryard burning during the regulated season, and burning may only occur on a permissive burn day, which residents must verify by calling the NSAQMD Burn Recorder at (530) 274-7928 before igniting. CAL FIRE's safety rules under PRC 4423 require maintaining a minimum 10-foot clearance down to bare mineral soil around the fire, keeping piles no larger than about 4 feet, having a shovel and water source on hand, and never leaving the fire unattended. Only dry vegetation may be burned — garbage and burn barrels are illegal. For recreational campfires, CAL FIRE requires a free California Campfire Permit (from readyforwildfire.org), a cleared area to bare soil and a round-point shovel on hand. During hot, dry periods CAL FIRE suspends all residential outdoor burning across the Lassen-Modoc-Plumas Unit (a suspension took effect June 17, 2026); even during a suspension, campfires within organized campgrounds or on private property with the owner's written permission may be allowed if a valid campfire permit is held and the fire is kept from spreading to wildland. On Plumas National Forest land, campfires outside designated sites require a campfire permit and may be banned seasonally. Self-contained propane fire features are generally treated more leniently than open wood fires.