San Benito County, CA Fire Regulations: Outdoor Burning (2026)
Outdoor burning rules in San Benito 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.
Key Facts
- Solid waste burning
- Prohibited by state law
- Vegetation burning
- Requires CalFire burn permit
- Air district
- Monterey Bay Unified APCD
- Citation
- County Code § 15.01.028
- Enforcement
- County Health Officer investigates
Summary
Burning solid waste is prohibited by state law across unincorporated San Benito County; vegetation can be burned only with a prior written burn permit from CalFire, and exemptions run through the regional air district.
Burning of solid waste is prohibited by state law. Any exemption to this law is regulated by the Monterey Bay Unified Air Pollution Control District. Vegetation may be burned only with the prior written approval (burn permit) of the California Department of Forestry.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2025 S-28: current through Ordinance 1078).
Full Breakdown
San Benito County Code bans burning solid waste anywhere in the unincorporated area, deferring to the state-law prohibition rather than creating a separate local ban. Any exemption to that prohibition is administered by the Monterey Bay Unified Air Pollution Control District, not the county. Property owners who want to burn vegetation, such as brush, prunings, or agricultural debris, must first get written approval, a burn permit, from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Burning without that written approval, or burning solid waste outright, is a code violation the county's Health Officer can investigate and cite.
Violations & Fines
Burning solid waste, or burning vegetation without a CalFire burn permit, violates Section 15.01.028 and is enforceable by the county Health Officer, punishable under the general penalty: up to $1,000, six months in jail, or both.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I burn brush or yard debris on my property in unincorporated San Benito County?
Who do I contact for a burn permit or an exemption?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in San Benito County
How San Benito County compares: Cities with the Strictest Outdoor Burning Rules·California rules heatmap·Compare San Benito County to another location·View the California fire regulations overview
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