Open burning in San Diego County is closely regulated by the San Diego County Air Pollution Control District and the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.  The following information is designed to help you obtain a burn permit at no cost to you:

1. You MUST call each day prior to burning.  Call AFTER 8:15 AM, not before.  Call (619) 441-1621, be prepared to give your permit number, name and location.

2. Every attempt should be made to haul the material to the dump in your area.

3. Permits are issued for burning of piled brush, tree trimmings and noxious weeds.  Wood and old lumber are not allowed to be burned with this permit.

4. Material to be burned should be cut at least thirty (30) days prior to burning and be free of dirt.  (REFER TO SECTION 4 ON THE BACK OF YOUR PERMIT).

5. Each pile to be burned will have a minimum of a thirty (30) foot clearance of all flammable vegetation and combustibles around all burn piles..  NO EXEMPTIONS!

6. Proper fire control tools (i.e., water) will be required at the burn site.

7. All burning may be restricted or suspended at any time of the year due to a no burn proclamation, smog, weather conditions or current incidents depleting resources.

8. An adult must be in attendance while all burning is being done.

9. Open pile burning is for Agricultural and or fire hazard reduction only.  NO TIRES, TRASH, PLASTICS, SCRAP METAL or LUMBER, or any other refuse may be burned.  All burn piles shall be free of dirt, soil, and visible surface moisture.

10. A valid permit must be at the burn site and presented upon request to any law enforcement official for inspection.

11. Smoke emitting from your burning is the permitee's responsibility.  Be a courteous neighbor.

ADDITIONAL BURN PERMIT INFORMATION

1. All burn sites will be inspected before a burn permit will be issued.

2. All burn permit inspections will be done between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. each Wednesday and each Saturday of every month, except holidays when there will be no inspections.

3. Someone should be at home to show the inspector the material to be burned and be able to answer any questions the inspector may have.  (Only piles that have been inspected at the time of of permit issuance may be burned.

4. Burn permits are issued from 1 to 15 days for piled brush and 3 days for pit barbecues.  Permit is no longer valid after 15 days, whether you have burned or not.

5. Permissible burn hours are between the hours of 8:15 a.m. and 10:00 a.m.  (all piles COMPLETELY extinguished by 10:00 a.m.) during spring and summer months, and between 8:15 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. (all piles COMPLETELY extinguished by 3:00 p.m.) during fall and winter months.

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