Audience landing · Burn rules
Can I burn today?
The District runs two separate burn programs: Don't Light Tonight (residential wood-burning, November through February) and agricultural and open-burn permits (year-round, coordinated through the Sacramento Valley Smoke Management Program).
Today's status
No burn day today
Residential wood-burning is allowed under standard rules. Agricultural burning requires a permit — see below.
Residential — Don't Light Tonight
The District's wood-smoke curtailment program runs November 1 through February 28 each year. On any day in that window with an AQI forecast ≥ 78 for PM2.5, residential wood-burning (fireplaces, wood stoves, wood-burning inserts) is prohibited for the next 24 hours. Sole-source heating households with an EPA-certified appliance are exempt with prior registration.
Year-round, burning of trash, leaves, yard waste, painted or treated wood, and wet vegetation is prohibited under District rules and California Air Resources Board statewide regulations.
Agricultural — burn permits required
Active ag burning in YSAQMD jurisdiction requires:
- A current ag burn permit from the District (annual; apply online or by phone).
- A daily burn allocation from the Sacramento Valley Smoke Management Program. Daily allocations are issued based on regional smoke-dispersion conditions.
- Notification on the day of the burn to the District by phone or online form.
Open burn — non-agricultural
Non-agricultural open burning (land clearing, hazard reduction, training fires) requires a separate permit from the District plus typically a fire-agency-issued burn permit. Most open burning is prohibited within city limits.
Asbestos — separate notification
Demolition or renovation involving asbestos (including residential structures with more than 4 units) requires a NESHAP notification to the District at least 10 working days before work begins. Online form coming with this redesign; today the form is a PDF on the Asbestos page.