Outdoor burning rules in Fresno, 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 is prohibited within the City of Fresno except with an operational permit issued under the Fresno Municipal Code and San Joaquin Valley Air District rules, or for limited cooking, campfire and religious-ceremonial fires using clean dry wood or charcoal. Burning trash is always illegal. Company officers may extinguish any non-compliant fire on the spot.
The Fresno Fire Department's SOP 202.006 (Outside Fires, rev. 4/19/2023) implements Fresno Municipal Code section 10-50307.1.1 (Prohibited Open Burning) and section 10-50105.6.32 (Open Burning), together with SJVAPCD Rule 4103 (Open Burning). No open burning is permitted in the department's response area except (1) open burning conducted under an operational permit issued under the FMC and the air district, or (2) fires used solely for cooking food, campfires, and religious ceremonial fires using clean, dry wood or charcoal. Even otherwise-allowed fires are prohibited if they become offensive or objectionable due to smoke, or when atmospheric or local conditions make them hazardous. Fruit stands, retail sales lots and Christmas tree lots may not burn for any reason and may not use wood stoves, portable fireplaces, chimineas, burn barrels or incinerators. The City confirms it is illegal to burn trash and that 'the only outdoor fires allowed are for cooking purposes.'
Fire company officers are authorized to order immediate extinguishment of non-compliant open burning, issue administrative citations under FMC section 10-50112.4 (Violation Penalties), and recover costs under FMC section 10-50112.5 (Cost Recovery). The air district may assess penalties up to $10,000 per violation per day under California Health & Safety Code section 42403.
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