Sunnyvale, CA Fire Regulations: Outdoor Burning (2026)

070 states flatly that it is unlawful for any person to burn discarded materials within the city, without listing exceptions, permits, or a minimum quantity. 020, defines 'discarded materials' broadly as recyclable materials, organic materials, and solid waste placed by a generator in a collection container or at a location for collection, so the ban reaches ordinary household trash, yard trimmings, cardboard, and other material a resident or business would otherwise set out for the city's authorized collector rather than burn on-site. 050. 070 closes off burning as an alternative disposal method.

130, separately makes it unlawful to burn, break, destroy, scatter, collect, or take recyclable materials without the consent of their owner, reinforcing that burning is not a lawful way to get rid of recyclables either. 010(b)(3) places all of Title 8 on the list of provisions treated as infractions rather than misdemeanors, so a first burning violation is charged and fined as an infraction rather than prosecuted as a criminal misdemeanor.