Merced County, CA Fire Regulations: Outdoor Burning (2026)

Outdoor burning is tightly controlled because most of Merced County lies on the San Joaquin Valley floor, a federal air-quality nonattainment area. Two layers apply. First, Merced County Code Section 9.24.160 makes it unlawful to burn brush, grass, or trash, or to maintain an outdoor fire, without a permit from the county fire chief. Agricultural burning has its own chapter: Merced County Code Chapter 9.20 (Agricultural Burning) requires a valid permit from the fire-control agency designated by the local air pollution control board before any agricultural burn (Section 9.20.030 area), and Section 9.20.080 requires that material to be burned be free of tires, rubbish, tar paper, construction debris, and used pesticide containers. Section 9.20.060 voids any permit on days when burning is prohibited by the air board. Second, the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District (SJVAPCD) regulates open burning under Rule 4103 and hazard-reduction burning under Rule 4106. On the valley floor, general open burning is largely prohibited; hazard-reduction burning is only permitted in the State Responsibility Area, which excludes most valley-floor land. When burning is allowed, it must occur on a permissive 'burn day,' generally starting at 9:00 a.m. with no new material added after 4:00 p.m., and household garbage may never be burned. Always check the SJVAPCD daily burn declaration for Merced County before lighting any outdoor fire.