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

Outdoor burning in Plumas County is jointly regulated by CAL FIRE's Lassen-Modoc Unit (the fire permit) and the Northern Sierra Air Quality Management District (air-quality and burn-day rules). A free CAL FIRE burn permit (burnpermit.fire.ca.gov) is required during the regulated season, and burning may only take place on a permissive burn day — residents must call the NSAQMD Burn Recorder at (530) 274-7928 before lighting. NSAQMD rules state that 'Dry vegetation is the ONLY material that can be legally burned.' Burn barrels are banned — 'It is illegal to use a burn barrel' — and burning paper, plastic, plywood, painted or treated wood, Styrofoam, cardboard, and household garbage is illegal and is a misdemeanor under the statewide Outdoor Residential Waste Burning Airborne Toxic Control Measure (which prohibits burn barrels and waste burning across Plumas, Sierra, and Nevada counties). Vegetation must be sufficiently dry (down and drying at least 3–6 weeks), and it is always illegal to create a smoke nuisance. NSAQMD generally waives its air-pollution permit for residential burns under 1 acre, but burns over 1 acre — and any residential burning within the Quincy Fire Protection District boundaries (the American Valley) — require an NSAQMD air-pollution permit. Burning over 10 acres requires a smoke management plan. Burning is also prohibited within Portola city limits, downtown Quincy, and East Quincy. CAL FIRE periodically suspends all residential burning during high fire danger (a suspension took effect June 17, 2026). Burning is regulated under Health & Safety Code section 41800 et seq., Title 17 of the California Code of Regulations, and NSAQMD Regulation III.