Camarillo Burn Bans Rules (2026): What You Need to Know

Camarillo is located in Ventura County and falls under the air quality jurisdiction of the Ventura County Air Pollution Control District (VCAPCD). The VCAPCD — not the South Coast Air Quality Management District, which governs Los Angeles County — is solely responsible for issuing seasonal No-Burn advisories and mandatory burning curtailment orders for all Ventura County communities, including Camarillo. When the VCAPCD forecasts that fine particulate matter (PM2.5) concentrations will reach unhealthy levels — conditions that most commonly arise during winter temperature inversions, stagnant air events, and the dry Santa Ana wind season — residents are prohibited from operating wood-burning fireplaces, traditional wood stoves, outdoor fire pits burning solid fuel, or any other solid-fuel-burning appliance. The VCAPCD posts No-Burn day advisories on its website at vcapcd.org, issues alerts through local media, and operates an air quality information line at (805) 645-1400. Residents may also sign up for email and text notifications through the district's Spare the Air alert system.

Appliances that produce substantially lower particulate emissions are exempt from mandatory No-Burn day restrictions under VCAPCD rules. Natural gas and propane fireplaces and free-standing heaters are exempt because they produce negligible particulate emissions. EPA-certified pellet stoves that meet the district's specific emission criteria are similarly exempt. Residents who rely on a wood-burning appliance as the sole source of heat for their primary residence may qualify for a hardship exemption on mandatory No-Burn days — contact VCAPCD at (805) 645-1400 to verify current eligibility requirements before assuming an exemption applies. Camarillo's location in the Pleasant Valley, which sits between the Santa Monica Mountains and the Topatopa range, can trap pollution under low-level inversions, making VCAPCD No-Burn day compliance particularly important for maintaining the area's air quality.

Separate from VCAPCD air quality regulations, the Ventura County Fire Department (VCFD) — which provides fire protection services to Camarillo — independently regulates outdoor and open burning within the city. Open burning of green waste, tree trimmings, yard debris, lumber, trash, or any other combustible material on residential or commercial property within Camarillo city limits is prohibited under VCFD rules and VCAPCD regulations. Residents should use the city's curbside green waste and organics recycling program, or request special large-item pickup, as an alternative to open burning for vegetation disposal. During National Weather Service Red Flag Warning conditions — when low humidity, low moisture content in fuels, and strong winds create extreme fire weather — the VCFD may additionally restrict or prohibit all outdoor burning including recreational fire pits and chimineas regardless of VCAPCD burn day status.