Backyard Burning

BURN SEASON IS OPEN

CAL FIRE Press Release, January 5, 2021

Due to COVID-19 restrictions and protocols, we are highly encouraging those that have held burn permits within the last 2 years to renew this season online.

Burn Day Hotline 1-800-834-2876
Línea telefónica directa para información de la quema permitida 

Para las regulaciones en general de la quema en el jardín trasero en forma apropiada, oprima aquí.

Backyard Burning 

• Backyard burning is the burning of green waste material by occupants of one- and two-family dwellings outside of Urban Reserve Line (URL) or Village Reserve Line (VRL) areas on a designated "Burn Day”.
• Backyard burning is prohibited within the city limits and URL or VRL communities. See interactive map below.
• If you live in Atascadero or Arroyo Grande, please contact the local Fire Deparment for information on their special hazard burn programs.

APCD Backyard Burn Permits (Not available at CAL FIRE facilities)

There are three ways to currently obtain a backyard burn permit during Burn Season:

1)  Online Permit Application Renewal (click here)

• Only for individuals who held a backyard burn permit within the past two burn seasons; your previous burn permit number or Assessor's Parcel Number (APN) will be required to complete this process. 
• Go to e-pay to renew your backyard burn permit and process credit card payment. Process fees apply to credit card transactions. 
• This site will serve as your "Application" as we have your information from previous burn seasons, no need to complete another Application.
• After payment of the fee, please allow a minimum of five (5) business days for the APCD to issue your Burn Permit and send it to you via email or U.S. Mail if an email address is not provided or is illegible. 

2)  Backyard Burning of Green Waste Application Form (locations available)

   a) Pick up burn permit application form from SLO County APCD 

• Complete all sections and sign the Application for Backyard Burning.
• Enclose a $50.00 check.
• Mail or hand deliver the form and permit fee to:

             San Luis Obispo County Air Pollution Control District
             3433 Roberto Court
             San Luis Obispo, CA 93401

    b) Downloadable Backyard Burn application from APCD's website 

• Complete all sections of the application, print and sign the application.
• Enclose a $50.00 check.
• Mail or hand deliver the application and permit fee to:

             San Luis Obispo County Air Pollution Control District
             3433 Roberto Court
             San Luis Obispo, CA 93401

• After receiving a valid application and check, the APCD will then issue a Burn Permit.

3)  In-person Submittal of Application - (Please note, due to COVID precautions our office is closed to walk-in customers, you would need to leave your permit application outside and call staff when you arrive at 805-781-5912). 

• Submit a completed application form to APCD office during regular business hours (Monday - Friday, 8 am - 12 noon & 1 - 5 pm).
• Provide payment of check, cash or credit card (process fees apply to credit card transactions).
• Burn permit is issued upon transaction completion.

For additional APCD information, please contact the Air District's Compliance Division at (805) 781-5912.

Burning Safely

The District Rule Requirements

To protect public health, the APCD Board approved revisions in 2000 to the general burning rule (Rule 501) which phased out backyard burning of green waste material in developed areas of San Luis Obispo County.  Focusing on urbanized areas of the County, the backyard burning restrictions apply to regions where green waste alternatives are available.

The cities and communities listed below are currently prohibited from the open burning of green waste materials:

* Please contact the Fire Departments of Arroyo Grande and Atascadero for information on their special fire hazard burn programs.

Parcels within the SLO County Urban and Village Reserve Lines (URL/VRL) areas listed above are ineligible for backyard burn permits.  Use the map below to see if you are in a burning prohibition area.

Burn Season and Permissive Burn Days

Burn Season is: OPEN 

Backyard Burn Season usually runs whenever Cal Fire closes fire season in the fall through April 30 of the following year. 

On permissive burn days the following restrictions apply:

• Permissive Burn Days will be determined using a two zone system, i.e. coastal and inland.  More
• Burning may occur only between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
• All green waste materials must be dry (extra precautions must be taken to account for moisture from recent rains) and free of trash or dirt.
• Green waste must originate on the property where burning occurs.
• Burn piles cannot be larger than 4 feet high by 6 feet diameter.
• Burn piles must have adequate clearance from neighboring property (50 ft), structures (30 ft) and combustible materials (15 ft).
• Burns may not cause a nuisance with smoke and ash to neighbors.
• If you live near a "smoke sensitive site" such as a school, nursing home or park, you must take extra care to eliminate potential smoke and ash impacts from your burn.

The California Air Resources Board, California Department of Forestry and Fire Prevention (CAL FIRE) and the APCD designate permissive burn days. Call the APCD Burn Line at (800) 834-2876 to find out if the current day is a permissive burn day in your zone.

Contact us if you have questions on where and when you can burn.

Alternatives

We are continuing our efforts to develop effective alternatives to assist the residents and communities in managing their green waste materials. Alternatives include backyard composting, community chipping and composting programs, and green waste curbside pickup.

Contact us for more information on this topic.