Placer County, CA Fire Regulations: Fire Pits & Backyard Fires (2026)
Fire pit rules in Placer County, CA, also called outdoor burning, recreational fire, or open flame ordinances, cover fuel types, clearances, and when burning is allowed.
Key Facts
- Allowed
- Dry vegetation grown on-site
- APCD Permit
- Not required for residential burning
- Fire-Agency Permit
- Usually required
- Prohibited
- Lawn clippings, cannabis, oleander, poison oak, trash
- Burn Days
- Permissive burn days only
- Burn-Day Line
- 530-889-6868
Summary
Residential backyard burning in unincorporated Placer County is limited to dry vegetation grown on the property and is allowed only on permissive burn days. Lawn clippings, cannabis, oleander, poison oak, garbage, and construction debris may not be burned. An APCD permit is not required for residential burning, but a fire-agency permit usually is.
All burn piles must have a minimum 10-foot clearance to bare mineral soil in every direction, piles should be no larger than 4 feet in diameter, and you must have a shovel and an adequate water source on hand, with an adult always present during burning. Burn barrels have been prohibited since 2004.
Full Breakdown
Residents of single- or two-family homes in unincorporated Placer County may burn only dry vegetative material grown on the property, dry brush, shrubs, grasses, leaves, pine needles, plants, trimmings, vines, and weeds. The Placer County APCD does not require its own burn permit for residential burning, but a local fire-agency (CAL FIRE / fire district) permit is usually required and residents must contact their fire agency before burning. Lawn clippings and cannabis are expressly prohibited, as are oleander and poison oak (whose smoke is hazardous), and general waste, garbage, plastics, rubber, treated wood, and construction/demolition debris, may never be burned.
Burning is allowed only on permissive burn days; some holidays are designated no-burn days, and residents must check the daily burn-day status at 530-889-6868 (or 800-998-BURN). Pile material must be dry and reasonably free of dirt, with longer drying times for thicker material (about 15 days for under 3-inch material and up to 6 weeks for larger pieces), and material over 12 inches in diameter must be split before burning. Local jurisdictions set their own allowed hours.
Violations & Fines
Backyard burning on a no-burn day, burning prohibited materials, or burning without a required fire-agency permit is illegal and subject to APCD and fire-agency enforcement. An escaped backyard fire can also expose the responsible party to citations and wildfire-suppression cost recovery.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I burn lawn clippings or leaves in my Placer County backyard?
Do I need a permit to burn in my backyard?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Placer County
How Placer County compares: Cities with the Strictest Fire Pit Rules·California rules heatmap·Compare Placer County to another location·View the California fire regulations overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.