Outdoor burning rules in Del Norte 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.
Open burning of yard vegetation in unincorporated Del Norte County is regulated by the North Coast Unified Air Quality Management District. A burn permit is required, only dry natural vegetation may be burned (no trash or lumber), burning is allowed only on declared permissive burn days during morning hours, and a CAL FIRE permit also applies in the State Responsibility Area.
The North Coast Unified Air Quality Management District (NCUAQMD) regulates open outdoor burning in Del Norte County. According to the District, 'Anytime you are burning natural vegetation for the purpose of disposal, you need a Burn Permit.' A Standard residential burn permit (a $20 fee, requiring a residence on-site) allows burning of dried, natural vegetation grown on site in piles up to about 4 feet in diameter at a time, and only between 6:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon on permissive (legal) burn days. Only dry natural vegetation — leaves, pine needles, brush, and tree trimmings — may be burned. The District prohibits burning trash, painted or treated wood, and construction/demolition debris ('Lumber is considered construction or demolition debris which is a prohibited material'). A 10-foot clearance to bare soil around the pile, a shovel and water source nearby, and an adult in attendance are required. Permissive burn-day status is determined daily; residents must verify it is a burn day before lighting (burn-day line 1-866-287-6329, District 707-443-3093). Because most unincorporated land is in a CAL FIRE State Responsibility Area, residents must also obtain a CAL FIRE Residential Burn Permit, and CAL FIRE can suspend outdoor burning entirely during fire season.
Illegal open burning (burning on a no-burn day, burning prohibited materials, or burning without a permit) violates NCUAQMD rules and California air-quality law. Under California Health & Safety Code Section 42402, air-district violations carry civil penalties that can reach $10,000 per day. If an escaped burn causes a wildfire, the responsible party can be billed for suppression costs under H&S Section 13009 and face criminal liability for a negligently started fire.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
del-norte-county-ca
Backyard composting is allowed in unincorporated Del Norte County. California's SB 1383 (effective January 2022) requires organic-waste recycling statewide, ...
del-norte-county-ca
Unincorporated Del Norte County has no ordinance banning artificial turf on residential property. Under California law, HOAs cannot prohibit synthetic grass ...
del-norte-county-ca
Unincorporated Del Norte County encourages efficient, low-water landscaping through its 2020 Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance and protects native wo...
del-norte-county-ca
Unincorporated Del Norte County has no ordinance prohibiting rainwater collection. Under California's Rainwater Capture Act (AB 1750), residential rain-barre...
del-norte-county-ca
Del Norte County adopted a Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO) on March 24, 2020 for qualifying new and renovated landscapes. California's stat...
del-norte-county-ca
Del Norte County's main weed ordinance targets tansy ragwort: County Code 7.40.50 makes it an infraction to let tansy flower within 150 feet of a property li...
See how Del Norte County's outdoor burning rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.