Ventura County, CA Fire Regulations: Outdoor Burning (2026)
Outdoor burning rules in Ventura 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
- Prohibited
- Lit tobacco/embers outside disposal areas
- Scope
- All County Parks, unincorporated area
- Temporary bans
- Director may suspend all park fires
- Fine
- $45 per violation
Summary
Discarding lit tobacco, embers or any burning material anywhere in a Ventura County park except a designated disposal area is banned under the county park safety ordinance.
No person shall allow any lighted tobacco product, or any burning or combustible material that could set fire to grass, shrub, trees, building or any other combustible substance to be deposited any place except areas designated for disposal of burning or combustible materials.(b)No person shall ignite or kindle a fire for cooking, including, but not limited to fires for barbecue grills, stoves, fire pits, and fire rings, except in areas designated for such use by the County.(c)No person using a barbecue grill or stove shall permit such grill or stove to remain in an untidy or unsanitary condition, nor shall any such person fail to clear away all cooking and eating utensils and waste matter after use thereof. Any person who uses a barbecue grill or stove shall, when such use is completed, extinguish or cover the embers in such a manner to prevent them from being a hazard.(d)The Director or his designee may prohibit fires in areas otherwise designated for fires if, in his sole discretion, public safety, weather conditions or other concerns necessitate such a temporary prohibition. (Ord. No. 4600, § 1, 5-10-2022)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 51).
Full Breakdown
Section 6307-3(a) of the Ventura County Ordinance Code makes it unlawful to deposit a lighted tobacco product or any burning or combustible material capable of igniting grass, shrubs, trees or buildings anywhere in a County Park except areas the County has designated for disposing of burning material. The Director may also temporarily ban all fires in a park for safety or weather reasons under § 6307-3(d).
Violations & Fines
A violation is a misdemeanor or infraction under § 6301-1, punishable by a $45 fine for each offense per § 6303-7.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is open burning banned in Ventura County parks?
Can the county temporarily ban all park fires?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Ventura County
How Ventura County compares: Cities with the Strictest Outdoor Burning Rules·California rules heatmap·Compare Ventura County to another location·View the California fire regulations overview
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