Outdoor burning rules in Palo Alto, 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 land-clearing debris is prohibited in Palo Alto. Only small recreational wood or charcoal fires in approved devices are allowed, and those are banned on Spare-the-Air days.
Palo Alto is an urban no-burn jurisdiction under Bay Area Air Quality Management District rules and Palo Alto Municipal Code Chapter 15.04. Burning of leaves, brush, construction debris, or household trash is illegal at all times. Only recreational fires in portable outdoor fireplaces, fire pits, or chimineas with fuel pieces no larger than 3 feet in diameter and 2 feet in height are permitted, and those must comply with Spare-the-Air restrictions when wood-burning. Agricultural burning is not a category in Palo Alto given its urban character. In the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone, the Fire Chief may issue red-flag burn bans prohibiting all outdoor flames including recreational fires during periods of high fire danger.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
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Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Santa Clara County.
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