Outdoor burning rules in El Dorado 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.
Outdoor burning of vegetative debris in unincorporated El Dorado County requires (1) a free CAL FIRE residential burn permit obtained at burnpermit.fire.ca.gov, (2) verification with the El Dorado County Air Quality Management District (AQMD) that it is a 'permissible burn day' (call 530-621-5897 or 866-621-5897), and (3) compliance with strict pile-size, clearance, and attendance rules. Piles larger than 4 ft x 4 ft require an additional AQMD permit. Burn barrels are illegal countywide.
Residential burning of dry vegetation grown on the property is allowed only outside of declared fire season and only on AQMD-declared permissible burn days. Burning of household trash, garbage, plastics, treated lumber, painted wood, construction debris, or burn barrels is prohibited countywide. For piles four feet by four feet or smaller, a free state burn permit must be obtained online from CAL FIRE at burnpermit.fire.ca.gov. For piles larger than 4 ft x 4 ft, a Burn Permit must be obtained from the El Dorado County Air Quality Management District at 330 Fair Lane, Placerville, CA (530-621-6662). All burning is governed by the El Dorado County AQMD Smoke Management Program adopted under California Health & Safety Code Section 41855 and California Code of Regulations Title 17, Section 80100 et seq. Operational requirements include: pile no larger than 4 feet in diameter; a 10-foot wide ring of bare mineral soil cleared around every debris pile; water and a shovel kept on site; an adult attendant present until the pile is completely extinguished; and no burning when wind or weather conditions make safe burning impossible. CAL FIRE retains authority to suspend all burning at any time by issuing a fire-season declaration for the Amador-El Dorado Unit. In incorporated Placerville and in the El Dorado County Fire Protection District, additional rules apply during fire season - open campfires for cooking and warming may only be conducted in a fireplace, permanent barbecue, portable barbecue, outdoor fireplace, incinerator, or grill.
Burning without a permit, burning on a no-burn day, burning prohibited materials, or use of a burn barrel may be cited by the AQMD or local fire district. Escaped fires expose the responsible party to fire-suppression and investigation cost recovery under California Health & Safety Code Section 13009, civil damages, and potential misdemeanor charges for negligent ignition under California Public Resources Code Sections 4421-4423.
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