West Sacramento, CA Fire Regulations: Outdoor Burning (2026)

YSAQMD is the lead air-quality authority for all outdoor burning in Yolo County and the northeastern portion of Solano County. The rules distinguish between (1) rural yard burning - residential burning of dry, vegetative material (weeds, prunings, leaves) outside any incorporated city, and (2) agricultural burning - burning of crop residue, ditch banks, orchard prunings, and similar material on agricultural lands. Rural yard burning is allowed only on days the YSAQMD declares as burn days through the 'Don't Light Tonight' system. Even on a burn day, the resident must also have a permit from the local fire protection district (Capay Valley, Esparto, Springlake, Madison-Esparto, West Plainfield, Zamora, Yocha Dehe, or whichever district covers the parcel), and may burn only between 9:00 a.m. (no earlier ignition) and 5:00 p.m. (no smoldering after that time). Only dry, vegetative material is allowed - no painted or treated wood, no plastic, no household garbage, and no construction debris. Agricultural burning requires separate YSAQMD authorization on every burn day; the District tracks daily burn allocations for crop, range, and orchard burning to keep regional smoke under federal and state limits. Burning is suspended during red-flag warnings and Cal Fire-declared fire seasons regardless of YSAQMD status.