Outdoor burning rules in Butte 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.
Effective May 1, the Butte County Fire Department (CAL FIRE Butte Unit) requires a CAL FIRE burn permit for all residential dooryard burning in the unincorporated county. Even with a permit, burning is only allowed on Permissive Burn Days declared by the Butte County Air Quality Management District (BCAQMD), and only specified natural vegetation may be burned. CAL FIRE annually suspends all permits (typically July through October) during peak wildfire season.
Burn permits are issued at no cost through burnpermit.fire.ca.gov and remain valid through April 30 of the following year on Permissive Burn Days only. BCAQMD's Outdoor Residential Burning rule states: 'It is illegal to burn any non-vegetative material, including, but not limited to garbage, paper, cardboard, any dimensional lumber, tires, construction materials, plastic, rubber, paint, bedding or furniture. Burn barrels are illegal.' Burn hours in most areas are 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.; Paradise allows 6:00 a.m. to dusk. Only natural vegetation grown on the property may be burned, and it must be dry (at least 15 days drying for material under 6 inches diameter, 30 days for larger). Daily burn-day status must be confirmed by calling (530) 332-9407 or visiting bcaqmd.org. Burn pile diameter is capped at 4 feet on parcels of 1 acre or less, and the 10-foot perimeter around the pile must be cleared to mineral soil with a responsible adult and water supply present until the fire is dead out. Suspended permits during fire season are announced on bereadybutte.com.
Illegal burning (no permit, no burn day, prohibited materials, or out of hours) is a misdemeanor under California Public Resources Code Section 4423 punishable by fine. If the fire escapes, the property owner is liable for full suppression costs under H&S Code Section 13009 and may face felony reckless arson charges under Penal Code Section 452. BCAQMD may also assess Air District civil penalties for burning prohibited materials.
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