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

Pomona falls within the jurisdiction of the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD), which administers one of California's most comprehensive no-burn programs under Rule 445. During the annual no-burn season from November 1 through the last day of February, SCAQMD issues daily forecasts by 3 PM designating the following day as either "Burn" (wood burning allowed), "Voluntary No-Burn" (advisory), or "Mandatory No-Burn" (legally required). On mandatory no-burn days, all solid-fuel-burning devices — indoor fireplaces, wood stoves, fire pits, chimineas, and any device burning wood, manufactured logs, or biomass — must remain completely unlit. Outside the seasonal window, SCAQMD still issues mandatory curtailment orders whenever PM2.5 particulate forecasts exceed federal health thresholds, meaning no-burn days can occur at any time of year.

Gas-fired and propane-fueled devices including gas fireplaces, gas fire pits, and patio heaters are exempt from all SCAQMD no-burn orders. The no-burn status can be checked daily at aqmd.gov, by calling the SCAQMD hotline at 1-800-367-4723, or by signing up for email and text alerts on the SCAQMD website. The Pomona Fire Department enforces fire safety under the locally adopted California Fire Code, which prohibits all open outdoor burning of refuse, vegetation, construction debris, and yard waste within city limits at all times. This prohibition applies regardless of SCAQMD burn status and is enforced independently by the Pomona Fire Prevention Bureau.

Pomona's inland location in the eastern San Gabriel Valley makes the city particularly susceptible to poor air quality during temperature inversions, which trap particulate matter in the valley. The SCAQMD no-burn program is specifically designed to reduce PM2.5 concentrations during these inversion events. Residents near the LA County Fairplex or Cal Poly Pomona campus should be aware that large-event operations at those facilities do not alter the applicability of SCAQMD no-burn rules to residential properties.