San Luis Obispo County, CA Fire Regulations: Outdoor Burning (2026)
Outdoor burning rules in San Luis Obispo 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
- Code Section
- SLO County Code § 16.04.040
- Permitted Window
- Burning only allowed 5:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. (and not at all on No-Burn Days)
- Setback
- ≥ 30 ft from buildings or flammable vegetation
- Attendance
- Must be attended; cannot be left burning unextinguished
- APCD Rule
- Rule 502 (Agricultural & Prescribed Burning)
- Burn Day Hotline
- (800) 834-2876
Summary
SLO County Code § 16.04.040 sharply limits open outdoor burning in unincorporated areas, banning it between 9 a.m. and 5 a.m. the following day, within 30 ft of structures or flammable vegetation, or while unattended, and SLO County APCD rules make burning trash, plastics, tires and treated lumber unlawful throughout the county.
In the county outside of incorporated cities and towns, it is unlawful for any person to build any fire out of doors for the purpose of burning papers, leaves, trash or other inflammable material whether in an incinerator or in small piles between the hours of nine a.m. of any one day and five a.m. of the following day, or within thirty feet of any building or structure or land covered with grass, brush, stubble, grain, hay or other inflammable material, or to leave such fire burning or unextinguished without some person in attendance, or to allow such fire to spread so as to damage persons or property.
Full Breakdown
Under Title 16, Chapter 16.04 of the SLO County Code, outdoor burning of papers, leaves, trash or other flammable material is prohibited between 9:00 a.m. of one day and 5:00 a.m. of the next; within 30 feet of any building, structure, or land covered with grass, brush, stubble, grain, hay or other flammable material; if left unattended; or if allowed to spread. Open burning is further regulated by the SLO County Air Pollution Control District: APCD Rule 502 governs agricultural and prescribed burning, and APCD policy makes it 'illegal to burn trash in San Luis Obispo County,' with burn-barrel use and burning of rubber, plastic, hydrocarbons (diesel, oil, grease, paint, solvent), lumber/construction materials, tar- or creosote-treated items, and cannabis waste all prohibited. Agricultural and prescribed burning are allowed only on a Permissive Burn Day with both an APCD permit and a CAL FIRE burn permit; status is announced on the APCD Burn Day Hotline at (800) 834-2876.
Violations & Fines
Burning outside the allowed daytime window, without an attendant, or within 30 ft of structures/vegetation is a Title 16 violation prosecutable as an infraction or misdemeanor; APCD violations (illegal trash burning, prohibited materials, no-burn-day burning) carry separate administrative penalties; CAL FIRE may also pursue cost-recovery for any escape.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I burn my trash or yard waste in a burn barrel?
When is open burning allowed?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in San Luis Obispo County
How San Luis Obispo County compares: Cities with the Strictest Outdoor Burning Rules·California rules heatmap·Compare San Luis Obispo County to another location·View the California fire regulations overview
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