Ventura County, CA Fire Regulations: Outdoor Burning (2026)

Under VCAPCD Rule 56, it is illegal to conduct any type of agricultural burn without a permit (consistent with California Health & Safety Code §41852). Permits are issued by the Ventura County Fire Department station nearest the burn location, where personnel inspect waste piles for fire safety and Rule 56 compliance. Only plant material produced from agricultural operations on the property qualifies — trees, grass, weeds, and vegetation cleared to establish agricultural uses. Trash burning is prohibited, and burning to clear land for development or general fire-hazard reduction is not 'agricultural burning.' Material must be dried before burning: trees/branches over 3 inches in diameter need at least six weeks, smaller material at least three weeks. Burns are limited to designated daily periods (such as 7–10 a.m., 10 a.m.–noon, and noon–4 p.m.), and the county is divided into burn regions, each with separate daily designations; status is updated daily at 4 p.m. and a maximum of 300 tons may be burned per day. No burning is permitted on weekends or holidays. For residential backyard burning of leaves, trash, or yard waste, there is effectively no permitted pathway — the District regulates open fires through Rule 56, and household burning that creates smoke can be treated as a public nuisance. Burn-day status is available on the District's hotline.