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seal Burning Debris

Burn Permits

cal fire burn permit logo

Online Burn Permits are now available. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection has transitioned to online residential burn permits for residents living within the state responsibility area of Nevada, Yuba, Placer and Sierra counties, effective immediately. The online application will provide a convenient method for obtaining a burn permit for residents within these counties.

Applicants can access the website at burnpermit.fire.ca.gov, watch the mandatory video which reviews burning requirements and safety tips, then fill in the required fields, submit the form and a door-yard burn permit will be created. The applicant must then print the permit and then sign it. Permits are valid for the calendar year in which they are issued and must be reissued annually on or after January 1st of each year.

Before you burn, residents must verify it is a “permissive burn day” prior to burning by contacting Nevada and Sierra Counties-Northern Sierra Air Quality Management District.

  • Western Nevada County (530) 274-7928
  • Eastern Nevada County (530) 582-1027
  • Western Sierra County (530) 289-3662
  • Eastern Sierra County (530) 994-3561

Residents are urged to take precautions while burning outdoors to prevent starting a wildfire.

  • Ensure that burn piles are no larger than four feet in diameter, have a 10-foot clearance of bare mineral soil around the burn pile and a responsible adult must be in attendance at all times with a water source and a shovel.
  • Dry, natural vegetation grown on the property can be burned outdoors in open piles unless prohibited by local ordinances. No household trash or garbage can be burned outdoors at residences.
debris burning infographic

IMPORTANT: CAL FIRE Burn Permits are only for within the State Responsibility Area (SRA), or where CAL FIRE has jurisdictional authority. For information and permits required outside the SRA / CAL FIRE jurisdiction, contact your local City/County fire authority. If the status in your county is marked as “Burning Allowed”, you still must confirm that it is a permissive burn day with your local air quality management agency. The contact phone numbers will appear on your permit.

Violations Of Any Burning Permit Terms Are A Violation Of State Law (Public Resources Code 4421, 4422, 4423 And 4425).