Outdoor burning rules in Merced, 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.
Residential open burning of trash, leaves, brush, or yard waste is effectively prohibited in Merced. The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District regulates burning under Rules 4103 and 4106, and hazard-reduction burning is only allowed in State Responsibility Areas - not the urban valley floor where Merced sits. Burning on a no-burn day brings enforcement and fines.
Merced lies on the San Joaquin Valley floor, within the air basin regulated by the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District (SJVAPCD). Open burning is generally prohibited under SJVAPCD Rule 4103 (Open Burning). Limited hazard-reduction burning of cleared vegetation is allowed only under Rule 4106 and only in the State Responsibility Area (SRA) - the District states this 'does NOT include most areas on the valley floor,' so urban Merced residents cannot legally conduct dooryard or backyard burning of vegetation. The District declares whether burning is permitted each day; its daily burn declarations are updated by 4:30 p.m., and burning at night or on a restricted day violates District rules and results in enforcement action. Agricultural open burning of orchard and crop waste is separately regulated under Rule 4103 as part of a statewide phase-down strategy and requires District authorization. The City's own Fire Prevention Code (Merced Municipal Code Chapter 17.32, adopting the California Fire Code) likewise prohibits open burning that creates a hazard. The only outdoor fires Merced residents may have are contained recreational and cooking fires that comply with the fire code. Residents should place yard waste in green-waste collection rather than burning it. To check whether burning is allowed, call the District's burn line at 1-877-HAZ-BURN (1-877-429-2876).
Burning on a no-burn day, at night, or without authorization violates San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District Rules 4103 and 4106 and results in District enforcement, which can carry administrative penalties. Under California Health & Safety Code Section 42402, air-district civil penalties can reach thousands of dollars per day for serious or repeated violations. Open burning that creates a fire hazard is also enforceable by the City of Merced Fire Department under the adopted California Fire Code (Merced Municipal Code Chapter 17.32).
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