Outdoor burning rules in Hawthorne, 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 outdoor burning of trash, leaves, brush, or debris is effectively banned in Hawthorne. South Coast AQMD Rule 444 prohibits open burning in the South Coast Air Basin without a permit, and Hawthorne's adopted LA County Fire Code bars open burning that creates a hazard. Only approved contained recreational fires are allowed.
Hawthorne lies within the South Coast Air Basin and is regulated by the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD). SCAQMD Rule 444 (Open Burning) prohibits the open burning of combustible materials - yard waste, leaves, brush, paper, lumber, and construction debris - in the basin without an AQMD permit, and residential open-burn permits are not issued in urban Los Angeles County. Hawthorne adopts the Los Angeles County Fire Code by reference (Municipal Code Section 8.32.060), which incorporates California Fire Code Chapter 3 prohibiting open burning that creates or adds to a hazardous condition. The only outdoor fires Hawthorne allows on private property are contained cooking, recreational, or ceremonial fires that comply with Section 8.32.070 (commercially produced container, approved fuels). Agricultural and prescribed burning under Rule 444 occur only in rural areas on approved burn days called by the California Air Resources Board - not in dense urban Hawthorne. Yard waste should be placed in the green organics cart for collection rather than burned.
Open burning without authorization is enforceable as a misdemeanor under the adopted LA County / California Fire Code administrative penalty provisions, generally carrying fines up to $1,000 and/or up to six months in county jail. SCAQMD Rule 444 violations are separately enforced by the District as administrative or civil penalties, which under California Health & Safety Code Section 42402 can reach thousands of dollars per day and may be referred for criminal prosecution. The Los Angeles County Fire Department, which provides fire protection to Hawthorne, may order immediate extinguishment of any illegal open fire.
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Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Los Angeles County.
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