Backyard burning of vegetative debris in unincorporated Placer County requires a CAL FIRE residential burn permit (annual May 1 - April 30 cycle), a declared APCD permissive burn day, a maximum 4-foot pile diameter, a 10-foot bare-soil clearance, an attending adult, and a shovel and water source on hand. Burn barrels are prohibited. Homeowners must also maintain 100 feet of defensible space around structures under California Public Resources Code Section 4291.
Backyard burning in Placer County is governed by overlapping CAL FIRE, Placer County Fire Department, and Placer County Air Pollution Control District rules. A CAL FIRE residential burn permit is required during declared fire season (effective each year on May 1) and is available free at burnpermit.fire.ca.gov. Burning must occur on a 'permissive burn day' declared by the Placer County APCD (530-889-6868 / 800-998-BURN). Only dry vegetation grown on the property may be burned, with minimum drying times: <3 inches diameter — 15 days; 3-6 inches — 3-6 weeks; >6 inches — 6 weeks (and materials over 12 inches must be split). Burn pile size is limited to 4 feet in diameter, with a 10-foot bare-soil clearance in every direction. A responsible adult must remain in attendance with a shovel and an adequate water source. Burn barrels have been prohibited since 2004. Separately, under California Public Resources Code Section 4291, all property owners in State Responsibility Areas (which cover most of unincorporated Placer County) must maintain 100 feet of defensible space around homes and structures, and a 10-foot non-combustible 'Zone 0' setback adjacent to structures under AB 3074 once final regulations take effect. Placer County Code Article 9.32, Part 4 (Hazardous Vegetation and Combustible Material Abatement) authorizes the county to abate hazardous vegetation on private parcels and bill costs to the owner if not corrected after notice.
Burning without a permit, on a no-burn day, or with prohibited materials may be cited by the Placer County APCD or local fire district. Escaped fires expose the property owner to fire-suppression cost recovery under California Health & Safety Code Section 13009 and to misdemeanor charges for negligent ignition under California Public Resources Code Sections 4421-4423. Failure to maintain defensible space under PRC 4291 can result in administrative abatement and citation by CAL FIRE or the local fire district.
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