Butte County, CA Fire Regulations: Outdoor Burning (2026)
Outdoor burning rules in Butte 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
- Permit required
- Yes - burnpermit.fire.ca.gov
- Burn hours
- 6:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. (most areas)
- Pile diameter
- Max 4 ft on lots <= 1 acre
- Clearance
- 10 ft cleared to mineral soil
- Burn barrels
- Illegal
- Burn-day check
- (530) 332-9407 / bcaqmd.org
Summary
Effective May 1, the Butte County Fire Department (CAL FIRE Butte Unit) requires a CAL FIRE burn permit for all residential dooryard burning in the unincorporated county. Even with a permit, burning is only allowed on Permissive Burn Days declared by the Butte County Air Quality Management District (BCAQMD), and only specified natural vegetation may be burned. CAL FIRE annually suspends all permits (typically July through October) during peak wildfire season.
It is illegal to burn any non-vegetative material, including, but not limited to garbage, paper, cardboard, any dimensional lumber, tires, construction materials, plastic, rubber, paint, bedding or furniture. Burn barrels are illegal. Only natural vegetation grown on the property can be burned. Vegetation must be dry and free of dirt; allow vegetation to dry for at least 15 days if under 6 inches in diameter and 30 days if over 6 inches in diameter. Before burning in Butte County, you MUST check the burn day status on the day that you are burning by calling 530-332-9407 (toll free: 855-332-9407) or by going to www.bcaqmd.org. An approved permit will be valid on any permissive burn day through April 30.
Full Breakdown
gov and remain valid through April 30 of the following year on Permissive Burn Days only. BCAQMD's Outdoor Residential Burning rule states: 'It is illegal to burn any non-vegetative material, including, but not limited to garbage, paper, cardboard, any dimensional lumber, tires, construction materials, plastic, rubber, paint, bedding or furniture. to dusk. Only natural vegetation grown on the property may be burned, and it must be dry (at least 15 days drying for material under 6 inches diameter, 30 days for larger). org. Burn pile diameter is capped at 4 feet on parcels of 1 acre or less, and the 10-foot perimeter around the pile must be cleared to mineral soil with a responsible adult and water supply present until the fire is dead out. com.
Violations & Fines
Illegal burning (no permit, no burn day, prohibited materials, or out of hours) is a misdemeanor under California Public Resources Code Section 4423 punishable by fine. If the fire escapes, the property owner is liable for full suppression costs under H&S Code Section 13009 and may face felony reckless arson charges under Penal Code Section 452. BCAQMD may also assess Air District civil penalties for burning prohibited materials.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I burn cardboard or scrap lumber from a remodel?
How do I find out if today is a burn day?
Are burn barrels OK if I'm careful?
What about during fire season?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Butte County
How Butte County compares: Cities with the Strictest Outdoor Burning Rules·California rules heatmap·Compare Butte County to another location·View the California fire regulations overview
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