Placer County, CA Fire Regulations: Outdoor Burning (2026)

All outdoor burning in unincorporated Placer County is regulated by the Placer County APCD, and burning is permitted only on designated 'permissive burn days' and only in areas of the county where burning is allowed. Residents must check burn-day status each day by calling 530-889-6868 (or 800-998-BURN) or the online burn-day information before igniting. Non-agricultural open burning — clearing land for development, fire-hazard reduction, forestry work, levee/ditch/right-of-way and reservoir burning, prescribed burning, and range improvement — requires a year-round APCD burn permit; burning without a required permit is illegal and subject to enforcement. A separate CAL FIRE or local fire-agency burn permit may also be required depending on location and time of year. General waste — paper, cardboard, trash, plastics, rubber, treated wood, and construction/demolition debris — may not be burned under any circumstances, and lawn clippings and cannabis are likewise prohibited. The county Unit Chief implements a burn ban when weather conditions warrant, and many denser developments have burning restricted entirely through CC&Rs or land-use permits.