Outdoor burning rules in Solano County, CA β also called the burn ban, open burning, or fire restriction ordinance β set when you can burn yard waste, debris, or run a recreational fire.
Outdoor burning in Solano County requires authorization from one of two air districts plus, for most burns, a CAL FIRE burn permit. The Yolo-Solano AQMD regulates the northeast (Vacaville, Dixon, Rio Vista); the Bay Area AQMD regulates the southwest (Vallejo, Benicia, Fairfield, Suisun). All burning is prohibited on declared 'Don't Light Tonight' (no-burn) days, and CAL FIRE LNU declares an annual fire season closure (typically late spring through fall) during which open burning is suspended.
Open burning in Solano County is governed at three layers. (1) Fire-safety layer: Solano County Code Chapter 12.5 prohibits flammable hazards and adopts the California Fire Code through Chapter 6.3, which regulates open burning under CFC Section 307. Most outdoor burns in the State Responsibility Area require a CAL FIRE burn permit from burnpermit.fire.ca.gov, and CAL FIRE LNU suspends all burn permits during peak fire season. (2) Air-quality layer: The Yolo-Solano AQMD covers Vacaville, Dixon, Rio Vista, and the unincorporated areas in northeast Solano; the Bay Area AQMD covers Vallejo, Benicia, Fairfield, Suisun City, and the southwest unincorporated area. Both districts require permits for agricultural burns and prohibit all burning on declared no-burn days through their 'Spare the Air' / 'Don't Light Tonight' programs. (3) Material layer: Only dry vegetative material may be burned β tree prunings, leaves, weeds, crop stubble, ditch-bank vegetation. Trash, lumber, plywood, treated wood, plastic, pallets, furniture, and construction materials may never be burned. Recreational fires under 3 ft diameter / 2 ft tall in approved containers, with clean dry firewood, are allowed under CFC 307.4.2 when no-burn rules are not in effect. Rural backyard burning (yard waste piles) is generally illegal in YSAQMD residential areas and is restricted to specific permit categories.
Burning without a required CAL FIRE or air-district permit, burning on a no-burn day, burning prohibited materials, or letting a permitted burn escape can result in citations from CAL FIRE LNU, the Solano County Sheriff, or the air district. Civil penalties from YSAQMD or BAAQMD typically start at several hundred dollars per violation and escalate sharply for repeat violations. Chapter 12.5 violations are misdemeanors with up to $1,000 fines and/or 6 months in jail, and any person who negligently starts a fire that escapes is liable for full suppression costs under California Health & Safety Code Β§13009.
Solano County, CA
Unincorporated Solano County has no leaf-blower-specific ordinance β no decibel cap, time-of-day restriction, or gas-blower ban beyond the general noise rule...
Solano County, CA
Unincorporated Solano County has no standalone amplified-music ordinance. Amplified sound is enforced through Solano County Code Β§21-10 (Disturbing the Peace...
Solano County, CA
Solano County Code Β§4-73 declares any dog, cat, fowl, or other animal that 'by habitual howling, yelping, barking or other noise disturbs or annoys persons i...
Solano County, CA
Unincorporated Solano County has no dedicated construction-hours ordinance. Construction noise is governed indirectly by Solano County Code Β§21-10 (Disturbin...
Solano County, CA
Unincorporated Solano County enforces nighttime quiet hours through Solano County Code Β§21-10 (Disturbing the Peace). Any non-agricultural noise that exceeds...
Solano County, CA
In unincorporated Solano County, commercial vehicles associated with a home-based business are limited by Solano County Code Β§28.72.40 (Home Occupations). Ty...
See how Solano County's outdoor burning rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.