Outdoor burning rules in Placer 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.
Residential pile burning in unincorporated Placer County requires a free annual CAL FIRE burn permit (issued through burnpermit.fire.ca.gov) and is only allowed on Placer County Air Pollution Control District (APCD) permissive burn days. Burning household garbage is prohibited.
Burning is regulated jointly by CAL FIRE Nevada-Yuba-Placer Unit / Placer County Fire and the Placer County Air Pollution Control District (Placer County Code Chapter 8.20 establishes the APCD's authority over open burning). Residential burn permits are free, valid for the calendar year (annual renewal), and require the applicant to complete CAL FIRE's mandatory online video before printing the permit. Only vegetative material — leaves, pine needles, tree trimmings — may be burned; household garbage, plastics, and construction debris are prohibited. Each day, the APCD declares whether it is a permissive burn day (call 530-889-6868 Auburn area or 800-998-BURN elsewhere). Non-agricultural and commercial burning requires a separate year-round APCD permit obtained in person at the Air District office (110 Maple Street, Auburn). Burn season is typically suspended in summer; CAL FIRE generally requires permits starting May 1 and suspends burning during peak fire season.
Burning without a permit, on a no-burn day, or burning prohibited materials can result in citations from CAL FIRE, APCD, and Placer County Code Compliance. Violators are also liable for suppression costs if a burn escapes.
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See how Placer County's outdoor burning rules stack up against other locations.
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