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

Outdoor burning in Trinity County is regulated by the North Coast Unified Air Quality Management District (NCUAQMD) for air quality and by CAL FIRE for fire safety, since the entire county is State Responsibility Area. A valid burn permit is required for all open outdoor burning of dried, natural vegetation grown on site. NCUAQMD's standard residential (dooryard) burn permit authorizes burning a maximum of one 4-foot-diameter pile at a time of approved materials, and the property must have a residence on site. Burning is allowed only on permissive burn days - residents must call 1-866-BURNDAY (866-287-6329) to confirm the day is open before burning. Burn hours run 6:00 a.m. until noon on permissive burn days under the standard permit. Properties in the State Responsibility Area also need a separate CAL FIRE residential burn permit, which becomes required around May 1 each year and is obtained at burnpermit.fire.ca.gov. CAL FIRE often suspends all permit burning entirely during the peak summer/fall fire season. Trinity County states plainly that it is illegal to burn garbage; household trash, plastics, and other prohibited materials may never be burned. A minimum 10-foot clearance down to bare mineral soil should be maintained around all burn piles. Always confirm both the permissive-burn-day status and whether any burn suspension is in effect before igniting.