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

Outdoor burning in unincorporated Imperial County is controlled primarily by the Imperial County Air Pollution Control District (ICAPCD), not by a county nuisance ordinance. ICAPCD's blanket rule is that ALL burning in Imperial County must have prior authorization from the Air District; residents must call (442) 265-1800 to confirm it is a Burn Day and that the location is allowed before lighting any fire. Residential green-waste burning is the open pile burning of vegetative material such as dry weeds, plant prunings, shrubbery and tree trimmings. ICAPCD allows it only when the material comes from that same property and the property is NOT inside an incorporated city or township, which effectively limits legal residential burning to the rural unincorporated county. Burning household trash, plastics, treated wood, tires or construction debris is never allowed. Agricultural burning, the open burning tied to growing crops or raising animals, is governed by ICAPCD Rule 701 and Title 17 of the state code; growers must obtain an Ag Burn Permit, file a burn submission identifying prepared fields, and burn only when ICAPCD designates an optimal Burn Day. Operations of 40 or more acres must develop and follow a Conservation Management Plan, and the program operates under the district's Smoke Management Plan. The district declares No-Burn Days when weather would trap smoke.