Fall Leaf Burning & Outdoor Burning Laws by State (2026)

Most Restrictive

1. 1
   Visalia, CA

   Visalia Municipal Code Chapter 8.44 prohibits most open burning. Burning of trash, plastic, demolition material, treated wood, and most cut vegetation is banned, and any allowed burn must comply with the California Fire Code and San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District rules.

2. 2
   Adams County, CO$100 civil infraction per violation

   Open fires, including campfires, are unlawful across every Adams County park, trail and open space area under Resolution 2022-649. Charcoal fires are allowed only in provided picnic grills, propane grills and gas generators are permitted if placed on a protective base, and any fire that endangers people or damages natural resources violates the rule regardless of permission.

3. 3
   Islip, NYRequired from state/local air-quality authority

   Open burning is broadly banned in the Town of Islip. New York's statewide rule, 6 NYCRR Part 215, prohibits burning any material in an open fire except for the narrow exceptions in Section 215.3. Islip's Chapter 19 fire code separately bars open burning of grass, brush, leaves, rubbish and building materials unless a permit has been obtained from the state or local air-quality authority. Burning trash, leaves and treated materials is never allowed.

4. 4
   Newport Beach, CA

   Newport Beach bans beach, camp and recreational fires everywhere except in City-provided containers at posted, permitted locations under Section 9.04.070. Section 9.04.080 separately bans any fireplace fueled by flammable or combustible liquid, indoors or outdoors, except outdoor units serving Group R-3 single-family homes.

5. 5
   Cheyenne, WY

   Cheyenne prohibits burning solid waste anywhere in the city; ashes and trash must go to collection or the transfer station, with commercial incineration allowed only under city and agency approval.

6. 6
   Jersey City, NJ$2,500–$10,000, § 1-25

   Setting fire to or burning refuse, rubbish or other waste anywhere in Jersey City is flatly unlawful under § 287-17. There's no seasonal exception or burn-permit process in Chapter 287: the prohibition covers any land in the city, and violators face the Code's solid-waste penalty tier.

7. 7
   El Cajon, CACouncil hardship permit only, fire chief reviews first

   El Cajon bans open and outdoor fires citywide. Section 8.04.010 makes it unlawful to build, light, or maintain any open fire, land-clearing fire, or burning of brush, trash, or rubbish, unless the burning happens in an approved incinerator or the city council grants a hardship permit after fire chief review.

8. 8
   Atlanta, GA

   Atlanta prohibits burning construction debris, stump and land-clearing debris, and virtually all other outdoor fires within city limits. Only cooking fires and recreational fire pits are exempt under the Fire Prevention Code's operational-permit rules.

9. 9
   Livermore, CA

   Livermore bans burning solid or hazardous waste outright unless it happens inside an incinerator the fire chief has approved in writing, and separately bans burying or spreading waste on open ground. Municipal Code Section 8.08.090 covers all three: burning, burying and surface dumping.

10. 10
    Coral Springs, FL

    Coral Springs bans open burning outright: City Code § 7-31 prohibits any open burning not specifically allowed elsewhere in the article, and the fire department or the Florida Division of Forestry can extinguish an illegal fire and bill the responsible party for the cost. Only a short list of exemptions in § 7-32 covers cooking fires, approved outdoor heating devices, and fire department training burns.