Santa Barbara County, CA Fire Regulations: Outdoor Burning (2026)
Outdoor burning rules in Santa Barbara 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
- Open waste burning
- Prohibited across the APCD (residential trash never allowed)
- Backyard yard-debris burning
- Permit only; Northern Zone; one/two-family dwellings
- Permissive burn months
- February, May, August, November only
- Permit categories
- Agricultural, Fire Hazard Reduction, Residential Dry Vegetation
- Burn-day requirement
- Only on CARB permissive burn days; not Sundays/holidays
- Daily burn status
- (805) 686-8177, updated 4 p.m. for next day
Summary
Burning waste of any kind in an open fire is prohibited across the Santa Barbara County APCD jurisdiction. Backyard burning of dry yard trimmings is allowed only by Fire Department permit, only in the Northern Zone, only on permissive burn days in February, May, August, and November, and only in low fire-season conditions.
SECTION 307 -- OPEN BURNING, RECREATIONAL FIRES AND PORTABLE OUTDOOR FIREPLACES is adopted in its entirety.
Full Breakdown
Two agencies govern outdoor burning in unincorporated Santa Barbara County: the Air Pollution Control District (APCD) for air quality and the County Fire Department for fire safety and permits. The APCD's open-burning rules state that burning waste of any kind in an open fire is prohibited, with only two exceptions: disposal of waste from commercial agricultural operations under strict conditions, and backyard burning of plant trimmings and leaves in specific areas by permit and under strict conditions. Outdoor residential waste burning (trash, garbage, construction debris) is not allowed anywhere in the APCD.
County Fire issues several permit categories: Agricultural Burning, Fire Hazard Reduction Burning (cuttings from trees, vines, or bushes cut to reduce fire hazard, restricted to high and very high fire hazard severity zones), and Residential Dry Vegetation (Backyard) Burning for homeowners at one- and two-family dwellings, who may burn adequately dried leaves, weeds, grass clippings, shrubbery, and tree prunings in the Northern Zone only (excluding Solvang, Santa Maria, and Lompoc), on permissive burn days in February, May, August, and November only. m. Permits are obtained from your local fire station, and a burn is only legal on days designated by the California Air Resources Board as Permissive Burn Days.
Violations & Fines
Open burning of prohibited waste violates APCD rules (including Rule 303, Nuisance) and can draw APCD enforcement; the APCD contact is (805) 979-8050. Burning without a valid Fire Department permit, on a non-burn day, or outside the allowed zone/months can result in citation and an order to extinguish. Always verify the daily burn-day status before igniting (recorded line (805) 686-8177, updated daily at 4 p.m. for the following day).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I burn trash or garbage outdoors in unincorporated Santa Barbara County?
When can I burn yard trimmings at my home?
How do I find out if today is a burn day?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Santa Barbara County
How Santa Barbara County compares: Cities with the Strictest Outdoor Burning Rules·California rules heatmap·Compare Santa Barbara County to another location·View the California fire regulations overview
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