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

Outdoor burning in unincorporated Colusa County is governed primarily by the Colusa County Air Pollution Control District (APCD), with agricultural, residential and prescribed burning treated separately. For residential waste burning, District Rule 300 (Sec. 1.3.1.5.2) states: 'Waste to be burned shall not contain petroleum products, demolition debris, tires, tar, metal salvage, wet garbage, dead animal, part of animals, materials containing prohibited materials or materials that produce offensive odors when burned.' Burning is only permitted on days the APCD declares a permissive burn day; residents must check the burn-day status (APCD: 530-458-0581) before igniting. Agricultural burning — open burning of vegetative material from commercial growing and harvesting, including water-delivery, wildland and forest-management burning — requires an Agricultural Burn Permit from the District. In State Responsibility Areas, CAL FIRE's Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit also requires a residential burn permit (free at burnpermit.fire.ca.gov, valid from May 1, renewed annually), and CAL FIRE suspends burning entirely during high fire danger. The County Code reinforces seasonal fire caution: under Code Sec. 7-8, open flame and burning substances are restricted in grain, grass, brush and stubble between May 1 and November 1. Always confirm both APCD burn-day status and any CAL FIRE suspension before any outdoor burn.