Santa Cruz County, CA Fire Regulations: Outdoor Burning (2026)
Outdoor burning rules in Santa Cruz 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
- County code
- Fire Code 7.92.307.2 (burn season/permits)
- Open burn season
- Approx. Dec 1 - May 1 (weather dependent)
- Permits required
- CAL FIRE burn permit + MBARD smoke permit
- Max pile size
- 4 ft x 4 ft x 4 ft, dry vegetation only
- Burn hours
- Ignite 8 AM-4 PM; out by 5 PM
- Burn-day status
- MBARD 1-800-225-2876
Summary
Residential (backyard) outdoor burning in unincorporated Santa Cruz County is allowed only during the open burn season, on a permissive burn day, with a CAL FIRE burn permit and a Monterey Bay Air Resources District (MBARD) permit. The county fire code section 7.92.307.2 governs burn season and permits.
Open burning is not allowed within the Local Responsibility Area of Santa Cruz County without the approval of the local fire chief having jurisdiction over that property. The open burn season for Santa Cruz County, unless otherwise declared, shall be December 1st through April 30th of the calendar year.
Full Breakdown
Outdoor burning of dry natural vegetation in unincorporated Santa Cruz County is tightly controlled. 2, residential burning is permitted only during the open burn season (the county's published season runs December 1 through May 1, subject to weather), and never between roughly May 1 and December 1. gov - no physical permit is issued; follow the 'Guidelines for Pile Burning') and must also obtain a smoke-management (backyard burn) permit from the Monterey Bay Air Resources District (MBARD), which is required for all residential backyard burning.
org or call 1-800-225-2876 (1-800-CAL-BURN). , a 10-foot clearance to bare mineral soil must surround the pile, and a responsible adult must attend continuously. Larger or agricultural burns require a CAL FIRE LE-5 permit with a pre-burn site inspection. Always contact your nearest CAL FIRE station before each burn day.
Violations & Fines
Burning without a CAL FIRE and MBARD permit, on a no-burn day, outside the open burn season, or burning trash/prohibited materials violates county and air-district rules. Escaped or unattended fires can trigger fire-suppression cost recovery and citations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to burn yard debris in unincorporated Santa Cruz County?
How big can a backyard burn pile be?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Santa Cruz County
How Santa Cruz County compares: Cities with the Strictest Outdoor Burning Rules·California rules heatmap·Compare Santa Cruz County to another location·View the California fire regulations overview
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