Outdoor burning rules in Lassen 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.
Open/outdoor burning in unincorporated Lassen County requires a free CAL FIRE burn permit and is only allowed on permissive burn days set by the Lassen County Air Pollution Control District. Only natural vegetative material (leaves, pine needles, tree trimmings) may be burned — household garbage and burn barrels are prohibited unless specifically authorized. CAL FIRE suspends all residential burning during high fire danger.
Outdoor burning in Lassen County is jointly regulated by CAL FIRE's Lassen-Modoc Unit (the fire permit) and the Lassen County Air Pollution Control District (air-quality/burn-day rules). A free CAL FIRE permit is required from May 1 each year for all hazard-reduction burning, obtained at burnpermit.fire.ca.gov. Burning may only take place on permissive burn days and within permissive burn hours; residents must call the Lassen County burn-day line at (530) 257-2876 (257-BURN) before igniting. Under APCD residential-burning rules, only natural vegetative material such as leaves, pine needles, and tree trimmings may be burned — household garbage may not be burned, and burn barrels may not be used unless authorized by the APCD. The burner must have a signed permit in hand and maintain control of the fire at all times. The Lassen County APCD office is at 66 North Lassen Street, Susanville, CA 96130, (530) 252-4247. CAL FIRE periodically suspends all outdoor residential burning in the State Responsibility Area of Lassen, Modoc, and Plumas counties when fire danger rises (a suspension took effect June 17, 2026). The county also adopted Chapter 9.17 of its code in 2024 governing burn permits and suspensions in unincorporated areas.
Burning prohibited materials (household garbage, rubbish), burning on a non-permissive burn day or during a CAL FIRE suspension, or burning without a valid permit can result in citation by the Lassen County APCD and/or CAL FIRE. If a fire escapes, the responsible party may be held criminally and civilly liable for suppression and damage costs.
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