Pismo Beach, CA Fire Regulations: Outdoor Burning (2026)

Section 8.12.140 A is the open-burning ban: no waste matter, combustible material or refuse shall be burned in the open air within the city, except barbecue fires, and except burning either conducted by or authorized by the fire chief. That gives the fire chief the sole authority to approve or conduct open burning. Subsection B goes further inside the city limits: no waste matter which in burning causes or creates a dense or offensive smoke shall be burned upon any premises within the corporate limits of the city, whether in an incinerator or not, except as noted in subsection A. So an incinerator is no cover for smoky burning.

The chapter defines an incinerator as a fireproof receptacle approved by the director of public works or fire chief and used for disposing of combustible rubbish on private premises. Rubbish, as defined in § 8.12.010, covers combustible and noncombustible waste matter and includes tree trimmings, grass cuttings, dead plants and weeds, so yard debris falls inside the ban. Subsection C closes the other disposal route: no garbage, wet garbage, refuse or rubbish can be buried underground, except that rubbish and refuse can be used to fill low areas within the city when properly leveled and covered with dirt and upon written permission of the director of public works.

The exception for barbecue fires is the only category the section names besides the fire chief's authorization. Barbecues are regulated separately in Chapter 8.36 of the code, which this page does not quote. The ban applies to the City of Pismo Beach and its corporate limits; Pismo State Beach and the Oceano Dunes are California State Parks land with their own rules, and Grover Beach and Arroyo Grande are separate cities.