San Bernardino, CA Fire Regulations: Outdoor Burning (2026)

Open burning of vegetation, landscape trimmings, paper, lumber, and household waste is prohibited within the City of San Bernardino under multiple overlapping authorities. South Coast Air Quality Management District Rule 444 bans open outdoor burning of waste across the South Coast Air Basin, which includes San Bernardino, except for specifically permitted agricultural, forest management, or firefighter training burns. The San Bernardino County Fire Protection District separately enforces California Fire Code Chapter 3, which prohibits open burning without a permit and restricts recreational fires to a three-foot diameter burning clean dry wood or charcoal. Burn barrels, trench burns, and incineration of construction debris are prohibited outright. During declared No-Burn days issued by SCAQMD, even indoor wood-burning fireplaces and stoves are restricted in the basin unless the home uses wood as its sole heat source. Agricultural burning on working farms requires a daily permit from the County Air Pollution Control District and is only allowed on permissive burn days. Violations of Rule 444 can carry civil penalties up to several thousand dollars per day, and county fire can add California Fire Code citations, criminal misdemeanor charges, and cost recovery if a fire escapes. Residents are encouraged to use curbside green-waste service rather than burning.