Rocklin, CA Fire Regulations: Backyard Fires (2026)

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.