Open Burn Information

Help Keep the Air Clean
Burning of Garden Prunings, Leaves, Grass Cuttings, or Trash is Prohibited by Law

What is the Bay Area Air Quality Management District?

The Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) is a regional agency with the authority to regulate air pollution from non-vehicular sources. The District includes all seven counties - Alameda, Contra Cost, San Francisco, Marin, San Mateo, Santa Clara and Napa, and portions of two others - southwest Solano and southern Sonoma.

District regulations control open burning, incineration, smoke and other emissions from factories, and evaporative compounds such as gasoline and paint. A violation of a District regulation can lead to the issuance of a violation notice which, under state law, carries a maximum civil penalty of 10,000 per day.

Why has Open Burning been regulated in the Bay Area since 1957?

Open burning was first regulated in the Bay Area in 1957 because of its considerable contribution to air pollution.

Air pollutants are usually divided into two classes- particulate matter and various pollutant gases. Smoke, composed of carbon and othe products of incomplete combustion, is the most obvious form of particulate pollutions. Hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and other gases are also emitted during open burning.

Since 1970, the "backyard" burning of leaves, trash, grass cuttings or prunings has been prohibited in the Bay Area. This prohibition is contained in the District's Regulation 5, Open Burning.

Is any Open Burning exempt from Regulation 5?

There are some exemptions to Regulation 5 which allow fires on permissive burn days at certain times of the year. The exemptions are primarily for agricultural operations. Non-agricultural wastes such as garden prunings, leaves, trash and grass cuttings must be disposed of by a method othe than burning.

Before any exempt burning can take place, the District's burn notification from must be approved by the public officer having jurisdiction. A fire permit may also be required by local officials. Exempt fires are necessary for such purposes as disease and pest prevention, crop replacement, orchard pruning, double crop stubble, wildlife management, range and forest management, flood control and fire hazard reduction.

A reference table listing types of exemptions, permissive burn periods for exempt fires, and the public official having jurisdiction is shown below.

What is a Permissive Burn Day?

Each day is designated either a BURN or NO BURN day. When District meteorologists determine that air pollution caused by open burning will be minimized because of favorable weather conditions, this is designated a BURN DAY. Only exempt fires can take place on a BURN day.

Information on BURN/NO BURN status may be obtained by calling the District toll-free agricultural burn information number - 1.800.792.0787. The BURN/NO BURN forecast is generally available by 3:00pm for the following day. When meteorological conditions are marginal (about 5% of the time), the forecast is not available until 8:00am in the morning. for BURN/NO BURN forecasts, the Bay Area is broken into two zones - north and south. Marin, Napa, southern Sonoma, southwest Solano, and a small sector of east Contra Costa are in the north zone. The south zone counties include Alameda, most of Contra Costa, San Francisco, San Mateo, and Santa Clara.

What can you do to help keep the air clean?

There are a number of actions the concerned individual can take to help fight air pollution:

• Don't burn trash, garden prunings, leaves and grass cuttings in your backyard. This practice is illegal within the BAAQMD.

• Report backyard burners and industrial violators to the BAAQMD by phoning toll free 1.800.334.ODOR (6367).

• Contact the BAAQMD for air quality literature at 415.749.4900 ext. 210.

• Educate yourself. Learn as much as possible about air pollution and its control. Learn how it relates to other environmental problems.

• Communicate your concern to others, your family, your friends, your representatives in government.

• Support legislation on all levels of government for strong pollution control measures.

Bay Area Air Quality Management District
939 Ellis St
San Francisco, CA 94109

Entire page source: BAAQMD pamphlet