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

Sonora falls within the CAL FIRE Tuolumne-Calaveras Unit (TCU) jurisdiction and is designated a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone — the most severe designation under California law. This designation reflects the region's dry Sierra Nevada foothill terrain, high summer temperatures, and historically active wildfire seasons. Under California Public Resources Code §4423, CAL FIRE TCU has authority to impose burn restrictions across all lands in the unit, including within Sonora city limits, overriding local ordinances during declared fire weather emergencies.

CAL FIRE issues three levels of burn restriction: Level I (Burning Allowed with Permit), Level II (No Burning Allowed), and Burn Prohibition (Total Ban). The restriction level is updated daily based on weather conditions, fuel moisture, and fire behavior forecasts. Seasonal restrictions typically begin in May and extend through the first significant rainfall, often November. During Level II and Prohibition periods, all outdoor burning — including recreational fire pits, backyard campfires, and debris burning — is prohibited regardless of whether a permit has been obtained.

Outside of burn ban periods, California law requires all residents in State Responsibility Areas (SRAs) to obtain a free annual burn permit through CAL FIRE's online portal at burnpermit.fire.ca.gov before conducting any residential burning. Sonora's own Municipal Code Chapter 8.32 also prohibits unlawful open burning within city limits, and the city's $60 annual burn permit from the Sonora Fire Department applies independently of CAL FIRE requirements.