Placer County, CA Fire Regulations: Outdoor Burning (2026)
Outdoor burning rules in Placer 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.
Key Facts
- Authority
- Placer County APCD
- Burn Days
- Permissive burn days only
- Burn-Day Line
- 530-889-6868 / 800-998-BURN
- APCD Permit
- Required for non-ag burning
- Banned Materials
- Trash, plastics, treated wood, lawn clippings
- APCD Phone
- 530-745-2330
Summary
Outdoor burning in unincorporated Placer County is governed by the Placer County Air Pollution Control District. Burning is allowed only on permissive burn days in areas that allow it. Non-agricultural burning (land clearing, fire-hazard reduction, etc.) requires an APCD year-round burn permit, and a fire-agency burn permit may also be needed.
All burn piles must have a minimum 10-foot clearance to bare mineral soil in every direction, piles should be no larger than 4 feet in diameter, and you must have a shovel and an adequate water source on hand, with an adult always present during burning.
Full Breakdown
All outdoor burning in unincorporated Placer County is regulated by the Placer County APCD, and burning is permitted only on designated 'permissive burn days' and only in areas of the county where burning is allowed. Residents must check burn-day status each day by calling 530-889-6868 (or 800-998-BURN) or the online burn-day information before igniting. Non-agricultural open burning, clearing land for development, fire-hazard reduction, forestry work, levee/ditch/right-of-way and reservoir burning, prescribed burning, and range improvement, requires a year-round APCD burn permit; burning without a required permit is illegal and subject to enforcement.
A separate CAL FIRE or local fire-agency burn permit may also be required depending on location and time of year. General waste, paper, cardboard, trash, plastics, rubber, treated wood, and construction/demolition debris, may not be burned under any circumstances, and lawn clippings and cannabis are likewise prohibited. The county Unit Chief implements a burn ban when weather conditions warrant, and many denser developments have burning restricted entirely through CC&Rs or land-use permits.
Violations & Fines
Burning without a required APCD permit, burning on a no-burn day, or burning prohibited materials is illegal and can trigger APCD enforcement action and penalties. Fire agencies can issue separate citations and recover suppression costs for escaped fires.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I burn yard waste anytime in unincorporated Placer County?
Is a permit required to burn?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Placer County
How Placer County compares: Cities with the Strictest Outdoor Burning Rules·California rules heatmap·Compare Placer County to another location·View the California fire regulations overview
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