Marin County, CA Fire Regulations: Outdoor Burning (2026)
Outdoor burning rules in Marin County, 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.
Key Facts
- Permit required
- Yes. LE5 California Inter-Agency Burn Permit, signed by Marin Co. Fire
- Closed burn season
- May 1 – October 31 (suspended)
- Code Section
- Marin Co. Code Ch. 16.16 (Ord. 3775); Cal. PRC § 4423
- Pile size limit
- 4 ft diameter × 4 ft height
- Clearance
- 10 ft to bare soil around pile
- Materials allowed
- Dry natural vegetation only (no trash, no painted wood)
Summary
Open burning (debris piles, vegetation) is prohibited in unincorporated Marin County from May 1 to October 31. Outside that window, residents need a LE5 California Inter-Agency Burn Permit signed by Marin County Fire and may only burn on declared 'permissive burn days.'
Permits are valid beginning May 1 of each year and require annual renewal. The issuing agency may require the permittee to contact the agency to determine permit suspension status prior to burning. Burning under permit by any person on public or private lands, except within incorporated cities, may be suspended, restricted, or otherwise prohibited by proclamation.
Full Breakdown
16 of the Marin County Code (currently Ordinance 3775, which adopts the California Fire Code with Marin amendments). During the declared fire-hazard season, typically May 1 through October 31, open burning is suspended. ' This LE5 form is the standard permit used statewide under California Public Resources Code § 4423, which authorizes CAL FIRE and local fire authorities to require permits for outdoor burning during fire season. Marin's burn rules limit pile size to four feet in diameter and four feet in height, require a 10-foot cleared area down to bare soil around each pile, prohibit burning on windy days, and require an adult to tend the fire at all times.
' Before lighting any permitted burn, residents must verify it is a 'permissive burn day' as posted by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. Marin County Fire issues pile burn permits only for properties in unincorporated Marin County; residents inside city limits or in special fire districts must obtain permits from their local agency.
Violations & Fines
Burning without a permit, or burning on a no-burn day, is a violation of the Marin County Fire Code and Cal. Public Resources Code § 4423. Citations are issued as infractions or misdemeanors depending on circumstances; uncontrolled fires can additionally trigger fire-suppression cost recovery under Cal. Health & Safety Code § 13009 (potentially tens of thousands of dollars) and criminal liability under Penal Code § 452 (reckless burning).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I burn yard waste in my backyard?
What can I burn under a Marin burn permit?
How do I get a burn permit?
What if Marin lifts or imposes a burn suspension early or late?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Marin County
How Marin County compares: Cities with the Strictest Outdoor Burning Rules·California rules heatmap·Compare Marin County to another location·View the California fire regulations overview
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