Outdoor burning rules in Newport Beach, 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 burning is prohibited in Newport Beach under the South Coast AQMD rules and NBMC Title 9. Outdoor cooking in approved devices is permitted. Beach fires are restricted to designated city fire rings.
Newport Beach falls within the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD), which prohibits open burning of any kind including yard waste, trash, and construction debris. NBMC Title 9 and the California Fire Code further reinforce this prohibition. Outdoor cooking is permitted in approved barbecue devices (gas or charcoal grills) that meet fire code clearance requirements. Recreational fires in approved fire pits on private property are allowed with proper setbacks. Beach bonfires are restricted to designated city fire rings — uncontained fires directly on the sand are prohibited. The SCAQMD occasionally issues no-burn alerts during poor air quality days that affect all outdoor burning including fireplaces and fire pits. Check SCAQMD.gov or call (800) 288-7664 for current burn status. NB Fire at (949) 644-3104 enforces outdoor burning regulations.
Open burning violations can result in citations from both NB Fire and SCAQMD. SCAQMD fines for illegal burning can reach $1,000 or more. City fire code violations carry administrative fines starting at $100. Burning during no-burn alerts carries additional SCAQMD penalties.
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Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Orange County.
See how other cities in Orange County handle outdoor burning.
See how Newport Beach's outdoor burning rules stack up against other locations.
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