Outdoor burning rules in Castro Valley, 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.
Outdoor open burning is essentially prohibited in Alameda County under BAAQMD Regulation 5 Rules 3 and 6. Agricultural and prescribed burns require district permits and are limited to designated burn days. Residential yard waste burning is not allowed.
The Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) Regulation 5 governs open burning across Alameda County and eight other Bay Area counties. Rule 3 addresses wildland vegetation management and Rule 6 regulates prescribed burning. Residential yard waste, trash, and construction debris burning are prohibited outright. Agricultural burning of crop residues requires a BAAQMD permit, is allowed only on declared permissive burn days, and requires a small-pile or prescribed-burn-style ignition. Ceremonial and training fires also require permits. CAL FIRE and Alameda County Fire enforce the state Public Resources Code 4423 during fire season (typically May through October) in State Responsibility Areas including the eastern foothills of the county. VHFHSZ residents face additional restrictions and defensible space requirements under PRC 4291.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
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Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Alameda County.
See how other cities in Alameda County handle outdoor burning.
See how Castro Valley's outdoor burning rules stack up against other locations.
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