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

The City of Irvine is located in central Orange County within the South Coast Air Basin and falls under the jurisdiction of the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) for air quality regulation and burn-day determinations. SCAQMD Rule 445 (Wood-Burning Devices) mandates No-Burn curtailment days when PM2.5 particulate forecasts exceed federal health standards. On declared No-Burn days, Irvine residents may not operate wood-burning fireplaces, traditional wood stoves, manufactured fire logs (such as Duraflame), pellet stoves, or any other solid-fuel-burning device. These curtailments typically occur during winter months from November through March when atmospheric inversions trap pollutants in the South Coast Air Basin.

Irvine is one of the largest master-planned communities in the United States, originally developed by the Irvine Company beginning in the 1960s across the former Irvine Ranch. The city spans approximately 66 square miles and includes extensive wildland-urban interface areas along its eastern and southern boundaries, where residential neighborhoods abut open space preserves including Limestone Canyon, Bommer Canyon, and the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks. These areas are particularly vulnerable to wildfire during Santa Ana wind events. The Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA), which provides fire protection services to Irvine, may impose additional burn restrictions during Red Flag Warning conditions, prohibiting all outdoor burning including recreational fire pits, charcoal grills, and outdoor fireplaces regardless of SCAQMD burn-day status.

A distinctive feature of Irvine's regulatory landscape is the prevalence of homeowners' associations (HOAs). The vast majority of Irvine's residential neighborhoods — including Woodbridge, Northwood, Portola Springs, Turtle Rock, University Park, and Quail Hill — are governed by HOAs with Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions (CC&Rs) that may impose rules stricter than city ordinances. Many Irvine HOAs prohibit wood-burning fireplaces entirely or restrict outdoor fire features beyond what municipal code requires. Residents should review their specific HOA CC&Rs in addition to city and SCAQMD regulations.

Residents can check current No-Burn day status at aqmd.gov, by calling the SCAQMD hotline at 1-866-966-3293, or through the SCAQMD mobile app. First-time residential violations of a No-Burn day curtailment carry a $50 fine, with subsequent violations escalating to $500 or more.