Monterey, CA Fire Regulations: Outdoor Burning (2026)
Outdoor burning rules in Monterey, 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
- Open burning
- Prohibited citywide, incl. bonfires
- Exception 1
- Approved container, Air District authorized
- Exception 2
- Written Fire Chief authorization
- Code adopted
- 2025 California Fire Code
- Max misdemeanor fine
- $1,000 / 6 months jail
Summary
Monterey bans all open burning, including outdoor rubbish fires and bonfires, under its amended California Fire Code Section 307.1.1, unless the fire sits inside an approved container authorized by the Monterey Bay Air Pollution Control District, or the Fire Chief grants written authorization for a special circumstance.
307.1.1 Prohibited open burning. Open burning shall be prohibited, including outdoor rubbish fires and bonfires, unless: 1. the fire is confined to an approved container as defined by the Uniform Mechanical Code and authorized by the Monterey Bay Air Pollution Control District. 2. a special condition or circumstance exists, and written authorization is granted by the Fire Chief.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 3721, passed July 7, 2026).
Full Breakdown
1 (Ord. 1 to prohibit open burning, including outdoor rubbish fires and bonfires, with only two narrow paths around the ban. The first requires the fire to be confined to a container approved under the Uniform Mechanical Code and authorized by the Monterey Bay Air Pollution Control District, the regional agency responsible for air-quality burn permits. The second requires written authorization from the Monterey Fire Chief for a special condition or circumstance, decided case by case rather than through a blanket permit. 2(m). 34.
Violations & Fines
Open burning without one of the two narrow exceptions is a misdemeanor fire code violation under Section 13-1, punishable by up to $1,000 in fines or six months in County jail, or both, per the citywide penalty at Section 1-1.06, and the City can also pursue the violation as a public nuisance through civil abatement or the administrative citation process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I burn yard waste or rubbish outdoors in Monterey?
Who has to approve an exception to the open burning ban?
What is the penalty for illegal open burning in Monterey?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Monterey
How Monterey compares: Cities with the Strictest Outdoor Burning Rules·California rules heatmap·Compare Monterey to another location·View the California fire regulations overview
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Outdoor Burning in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Monterey County handle outdoor burning.