Garden Grove, CA Fire Regulations: Outdoor Burning (2026)
Outdoor burning rules in Garden Grove, 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.
Key Facts
- Governing amendment
- § 18.16.020, CA Fire Code § 305.6
- Conditional ban trigger
- Winds over 8 mph, humidity under 25%
- Absolute ban trigger
- Sustained winds over 20 mph
- Rubbish burning
- Approved incinerator only, § 305.7
- Enforced by
- Orange County Fire Authority
Summary
Garden Grove's Fire Code amendments ban outdoor wood fires whenever sustained winds exceed 8 mph with humidity under 25%, a red flag condition is declared, or the fire code official posts a warning, and bar any outdoor fire outright once sustained winds pass 20 mph. Rubbish burning is limited to an approved incinerator.
305.6 Hazardous conditions. Outdoor fires burning wood or other solid fuel are not allowed when any of the following conditions applies: 1. When predicted sustained winds exceed 8 MPH and relative humidity is less than 25%, or a red flag condition has been declared. 2. When an official sign was caused to be posted by the fire code official, or a public announcement is made. No outdoor fires using any fuel type are permitted when predicted sustained winds exceed 20 MPH or when such fires present a hazard as determined by the fire code official. ... 305.7 Disposal of rubbish. Rubbish, trash or combustible waste material shall be burned only within an approved incinerator and in accordance with Section 307.2.1.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4903654; v10 updated 2026-05-12).
Full Breakdown
6, Hazardous Conditions, to the locally enforced California Fire Code. It bars outdoor fires burning wood or other solid fuel whenever predicted sustained winds exceed 8 mph and relative humidity is below 25%, whenever a red flag condition has been declared, or whenever the fire code official has posted an official sign or made a public announcement. Beyond those triggers, no outdoor fire of any fuel type is permitted once predicted sustained winds exceed 20 mph, or whenever the fire code official determines the fire presents a hazard. 1. 6. 010, and its Director of Fire Services can assign inspectors as necessary to check compliance with the wind, humidity, and rubbish-burning limits.
Violations & Fines
Burning during a banned wind, humidity, or red-flag condition, or burning rubbish outside an approved incinerator, is enforced under Fire Code Section 113.4, with fines assessed per the OCFA Prevention Field Services fee schedule and each day of continued violation counted as a separate offense. Section 113.4.2, added by the same amendment, treats letting a fire or life safety hazard persist as an infraction, escalating to a misdemeanor if the responsible person fails to abate it once ordered by the fire chief or a designated representative.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is outdoor burning banned in Garden Grove?
Is there ever a total ban on outdoor fires regardless of fuel type?
Can I burn yard waste or trash in my backyard?
Who decides if a red flag or wind condition is in effect?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Garden Grove
How Garden Grove compares: Cities with the Strictest Outdoor Burning Rules·California rules heatmap·Compare Garden Grove to another location·View the California fire regulations overview
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Outdoor Burning in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Orange County handle outdoor burning.