Outdoor burning rules in Yolo 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.
All open burning in Yolo County is regulated by the Yolo-Solano Air Quality Management District (YSAQMD). Rural yard burning is allowed only on YSAQMD-declared burn days, only with a permit from the local fire protection district, only of dry vegetative material, and only between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. (no smoldering after 5 p.m.). Agricultural burning requires separate YSAQMD authorization. Burning of garbage, plastic, and other non-organic material is banned statewide.
YSAQMD is the lead air-quality authority for all outdoor burning in Yolo County and the northeastern portion of Solano County. The rules distinguish between (1) rural yard burning - residential burning of dry, vegetative material (weeds, prunings, leaves) outside any incorporated city, and (2) agricultural burning - burning of crop residue, ditch banks, orchard prunings, and similar material on agricultural lands. Rural yard burning is allowed only on days the YSAQMD declares as burn days through the 'Don't Light Tonight' system. Even on a burn day, the resident must also have a permit from the local fire protection district (Capay Valley, Esparto, Springlake, Madison-Esparto, West Plainfield, Zamora, Yocha Dehe, or whichever district covers the parcel), and may burn only between 9:00 a.m. (no earlier ignition) and 5:00 p.m. (no smoldering after that time). Only dry, vegetative material is allowed - no painted or treated wood, no plastic, no household garbage, and no construction debris. Agricultural burning requires separate YSAQMD authorization on every burn day; the District tracks daily burn allocations for crop, range, and orchard burning to keep regional smoke under federal and state limits. Burning is suspended during red-flag warnings and Cal Fire-declared fire seasons regardless of YSAQMD status.
Burning without a permit, on a no-burn day, or of prohibited material can result in YSAQMD civil penalties (Rule 2.5), Cal Fire citations, and liability for suppression costs under Health & Safety Code Sec. 13009 if a wildfire escapes. The District can revoke burn permits and refer repeat offenders for misdemeanor prosecution. Statewide, open burning of household garbage is a separate criminal violation.
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