Outdoor burning rules in Ontario, 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 of yard waste, trash, or debris is banned in Ontario under the adopted California Fire Code and SCAQMD Rule 444. Only recreational fires in approved pits and BBQ cooking are allowed.
Ontario sits within the South Coast Air Quality Management District, where SCAQMD Rule 444 (Open Burning) prohibits burning of agricultural and residential waste across most of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties. Ontario's adopted California Fire Code reinforces this by banning open burning of leaves, brush, construction debris, tires, plastics, and household trash. Permitted exceptions are narrow: small recreational wood fires in approved outdoor fireplaces or pits burning clean seasoned wood, commercial cooking fires (barbecues, smokers), and ceremonial fires with a fire department permit. No-burn days declared by SCAQMD during winter PM2.5 episodes suspend even recreational wood fires. Violations are investigated by Ontario Fire and may also trigger Notice of Violation from SCAQMD with separate civil penalties. Air quality complaints can be filed with SCAQMD at 1-800-CUT-SMOG.
Ontario Fire may issue a cease order and administrative fine starting near 100 dollars. SCAQMD may issue a separate Notice of Violation with civil penalties up to several hundred dollars per day for residential open burns.
Ontario, CA
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Ontario, CA
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Ontario, CA
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Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in San Bernardino County.
See how other cities in San Bernardino County handle outdoor burning.
See how Ontario's outdoor burning rules stack up against other locations.
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