Burning garbage or construction debris is illegal. This includes:
- Paper, cardboard, or junk mail
- Construction debris, lumber, or treated wood
- Rubber
- Metal
- Plastics or petroleum products
- Dead animals
- Asphalt
- Anything that emits toxins or bad odors when burned
You can be fined up to $10,000 per day for illegal burning.
Using a burn barrel is illegal
Burn barrels are illegal. A fire in a burn barrel creates toxic smoke that stays low to the ground. That toxic smoke is bad for your health.
If you see illegal burning or smoke is getting into your house, report illegal burning.
Most burning is illegal in an urban growth area (UGA). An urban growth area is land used for urban development in and around communities. Even if you live outside city limits, you may still live inside an urban growth area. Land outside an urban growth area (like agricultural, rural, and natural land) is protected from urban sprawl. Where you live determines whether you can burn.
Click to open map to check if you're in an urban growth area.
Check if you are in an urban growth area
Search for an address on the urban growth area map to check if you're in an urban growth area.
Burning outside an urban growth area
If you live outside an urban growth area, you may have limited burning.
Allowed burning includes:
- Barbecues. Burn only briquettes, propane, or dry, seasoned firewood.
- Campfires. Fire must not be bigger than 3 feet x 3 feet x 2 feet. Burn only dry, seasoned firewood.
- Dry yard and garden waste. Fire must not be bigger than 4 feet x 4 feet x 3 feet. Burn only natural, unprocessed vegetation.
You must:
- Get permission from your local fire district before you burn.
- Keep the fire 50 feet away from any structure.
- Attend the fire at all times.
- Have water nearby to put out the fire.
- Make sure your smoke doesn't affect your neighbors.
Burning inside an urban growth area
If you live inside an urban growth area, you can only have a recreational or tumbleweed fire.
Allowed burning includes:
- Barbecues. Burn only briquettes, propane, or dry, seasoned firewood.
- Campfires. Fire must not be bigger than 3 feet x 3 feet x 2 feet. Burn only dry, seasoned firewood.
- Burning tumbleweed. A burn permit may be required in communities with more than 250,000 people. Check with your local clean air agency.