Outdoor burning rules in Los Angeles County, CA — also called the burn ban, open burning, or fire restriction ordinance — set when you can burn yard waste, debris, or run a recreational fire.
Open burning is prohibited in unincorporated LA County except by permit from the LA County Fire Department. The South Coast Air Quality Management District Rule 444 further restricts open burning. Wildfire risk areas have additional prohibitions.
LA County Fire Code requires a permit for any open burning in unincorporated areas under Section 105.5. The South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) Rule 444 prohibits most open burning including agricultural burning, land clearing, and trash burning without specific permits. Recreational fires in approved fire pits on private property may be allowed if they comply with SCAQMD rules (clean-burning fuels only, no trash), are supervised, and maintain clearance from structures. In Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones (VHFHSZ), which cover much of unincorporated LA County's hillside areas, additional restrictions apply and outdoor fires may be banned entirely during Red Flag warnings. The Fire Department can impose temporary burn bans during high-risk conditions.
Unpermitted burning: misdemeanor with fines up to $1,000 and/or 6 months jail. SCAQMD violations carry separate penalties of $1,000 per day. Causing a wildfire through illegal burning triggers felony charges.
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See how Los Angeles County's outdoor burning rules stack up against other locations.
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