Welcome to Cal Fire/San Luis Obispo County Fire Department

Burn Permits

APCD Burn Permits

Effective immediately, CAL FIRE/County Fire will no longer be issuing or providing San Luis Obispo County Air Pollution Control District burn permits.

· Coming in October: The APCD will have downloadable Applications for Burn Permits on their website available for your convenience to fill out, enclose a check and mail to the APCD. After receiving your valid Application and check, the APCD will immediately respond with an email with your Permit attached or if required, mail you a Permit.

· APCD Backyard and Agricultural Burn Permit forms are available at locations throughout the County at most county libraries, some city libraries and many CSD offices. In October more locations will be available to pick up both Backyard and Agricultural Burn Permit forms.

For more information regarding APCD please contact:

San Luis Obispo County Air Pollution Control District

3343 Roberto Court, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401

Phone (805) 781-5912

Fax: (805) 781-1002

Email: info@slocleanair.org

Website: www.slocleanair.org

Burn Line (800) 834-2876

CAL FIRE Burn Permits

Where alternative means of vegetation disposal are not feasible, CAL FIRE encourages the safe and prudent use of burning during certain times of the year. Residential debris burning, hazard reduction burning, agricultural burning, development burning, and range improvement burning are commonly used methods that can be effective for removing excess vegetation and reducing the fire hazard. However, burning should only be utilized when conditions are appropriate and when fire danger is low. For more information on debris burning safety download an educational fact sheet.

** DURING FIRE SEASON ONLY **

In addition to APCD requirements, if you plan to conduct burning between May 1^st and the end of the declared fire season, you may be required to obtain a CAL FIRE LE-5 or LE-7 burn permit in accordance with PRC § 4423(b). The type of permit issued will be determined by CAL FIRE based on the amount and type of material to be burned.

Ø Permit Procedure:

ü Site inspection per Battalion Chief requirements

ü Issuance of LE-5 or LE-7 permit (no cost)

ü Burning conducted in accordance with the terms of the CAL FIRE burn permit and with all other applicable rules and regulations

NOTE:

1. Permits are valid only on those days which are not prohibited by the State Air Resources Board pursuant to Section 41855 of the Health and Safety Code or by APCD.

2. Residential dooryard/backyard burning will not be authorized during fire season.

For additional information regarding CAL FIRE burn permits, please contact your nearest CAL FIRE facility.

Burn Restrictions

CAL FIRE may restrict burning in areas under the department’s jurisdiction during certain times of the year. These restrictions are implemented when the fire danger has increased due to weather and vegetation conditions that are not considered safe for burning. A burn restriction may limit the time of day when burning is allowed or, more commonly, will temporarily suspend all permit burning until conditions become more favorable.

Current Restrictions

Permit Type	Status	Effective Date
LE 5	On Permissive Burn Days with Permit	May 1, 2011
LE 7 Project Burning	On Permissive Burn Days with Permit	May 1, 2011

MISC. INFORMATION & DEFINITIONS

Campfires (Warming Fires)
Definition: “Campfire” means a fire which is used for cooking, warmth, lighting, ceremonial, or aesthetic purposes, including fires contained within outdoor fireplaces and enclosed stoves, stoves using petroleum based fuels, portable barbeque pits and braziers… “Campfire” does not include portable lanterns designed to emit light resulting from a combustion process (PRC 4103.5).

Requirements on private property:
1) Written permission from owner, lessee or agent of property owner is required.
2) California Campfire Permit (CCP) is NOT required.
3) Recommended clearance around campfire is 4 feet, clear of all flammable material.

Requirements on USFS and BLM property:
1) California Campfire Permit.
2) Expiration date: no more than one year from date of issue.
3) CCP is required in all areas (primitive campsites included) except designated-developed campgrounds that have approved campfire sites.
4) Fire restrictions may be in effect, particularly during fire season, which may prohibit all campfires outside developed/designated campgrounds. Permittee is responsible for knowing current restrictions.

Law Enforcement
1) Applicable fire laws will be enforced by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection/San Luis Obispo County Fire Department.
2) Any escaped fire requires law enforcement action regardless of the time of year. Any escaped fire that does not burn the property of another still requires LE action.
3) Violating the terms and conditions of a CAL FIRE permit is punishable as a misdemeanor and will result in revocation of the respective permit. Non-compliance may result in civil and/or criminal actions by the enforcement agency.

Estimated Size of 1 Ton of Material -
One ton of dry vegetation matter is equivalent to a pile 15 feet in diameter, by 5 feet in height. LE-5 permit form requires an estimate of tons or acres - not both.