Open burning in Yolo County is strictly regulated to protect air quality and community safety. Before igniting any fire, residents and agricultural operators must understand local requirements, verify current conditions, and obtain the proper permissions.

Failure to burn within the requirements of the law may result in a citation, and you may be held liable for all emergency suppression costs.

 

What is a Burn Day?

Burn days are designated daily by the California Air Resources Board (ARB). Each day, the ARB examines regional weather patterns to predict whether smoke from fires will dissipate safely.

• If conditions are favorable: A burn day is declared.
• If conditions are poor: A non-burn day is declared, and all open burning is strictly prohibited.

This information is updated daily and relayed directly to the Yolo-Solano AQMD and local fire agencies.

 

What is Rural Burning?

Rural yard burning is the open burning of loose residential yard waste such as dry weeds, plant prunings, shrubbery, tree trimmings, and branches by household residents. Rural yard burning is permitted within the District only on designated burn days and must meet strict safety criteria.

For full district details and daily status updates, review the official Rural Yard Burn Information.

 

Mandatory Safety Requirements

• Confirm Status: Verify that it is a permissible burn day before doing any work.
• Notify Dispatch: You must notify Yolo County Dispatch prior to ignition.
• Time Restrictions: Burning may only occur within the hours established by the Yolo-Solano AQMD. In all cases, fires must be completely extinguished and cannot smolder or burn later than 5:00 p.m.
• Material Condition: All burn material must be dry and entirely free of trash, household garbage, or dirt.
• Property of Origin: Green waste must originate from the specific property where the burning takes place.
• Pile Size Limits: Burn piles cannot exceed 4 feet in height and 6 feet in diameter.
• Clearance Distances: Burn piles must maintain a minimum clearance of 50 feet from neighboring property lines, 50 feet from any structures, and 15 feet from any combustible materials.
• Constant Supervision: Burns must be supervised by a responsible adult at all times, with the immediate capability to terminate the fire if conditions change.
• Fire Tools On Hand: Active firefighting tools (such as a rake and shovel) and an immediate, reliable water supply (either a garden hose or a portable water container) are required on scene.
• Nuisance Mitigation: Burns must not create a smoke or ash nuisance for neighbors. If you live near a "smoke-sensitive site" (such as a school, nursing home, or public park), you must take extra care to eliminate potential impacts.

 

Agricultural Burning

Agricultural burning involves the open burning of commercial agricultural wastes produced by farming operations, such as crop stubble, orchard prunings, and land clearing for agricultural use.

Like residential burning, agricultural burns are restricted to declared burn days and are subject to specific daily operational hours set by the air district. Agricultural operators must possess a valid permit and log their targeted acreage before burning.

For complete guidelines, permits, and daily log instructions, see the official Agricultural Burning Information.

 

When May I Burn?

The exact hours during which you may burn depend entirely on the daily parameters established by the YSAQMD. Burning is strictly prohibited on non-burn days.