Outdoor burning rules in Carmichael, 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.
Open burning of yard waste is illegal in Carmichael under Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District Rule 407, which prohibits all open burning north of Calvine Road in Sacramento County. Yard waste must go in the green bin or be taken to a county landfill.
SMAQMD Rule 407 (Open Burning) and California Fire Code §307 prohibit open burning of vegetation in the urbanized portion of Sacramento County, including all of Carmichael. The Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District does not issue residential open-burn permits for yard waste, brush, or stumps within its service area. CAL FIRE-only agricultural burns are limited to certain rural parcels outside Carmichael and require a CAL FIRE permit at burnpermit.fire.ca.gov plus a same-day burn-day permission check via the SMAQMD burn line. Recreational fires in approved, manufacturer-built fire pits (gas or contained wood) under §307.4.2 of the California Fire Code are allowed if 25 feet from structures and supervised.
Violation of SMAQMD Rule 407 is a misdemeanor under California H&SC §42400 - up to $1,000 fine per day. California Fire Code §307 violations are misdemeanors under H&SC §13871 - up to $1,000 and six months jail. SMAQMD may also assess civil penalties up to $10,000 for repeat large-scale violations.
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