3) Permit Number

           4) Permit Expiration Date

           5) Street address & cross

           6) Type of material

REPORT Your Burning Information Here

During non-fire season and all non-permissive burn days the caller will receive a recorded message containing the appropriate information.

BURNING PERMIT ADMINISTRATION

GUIDELINES/REQUIREMENTS 

1.  Dooryard/Open Burning

Definition:

PROHIBITED BETWEEN MAY 1^ST AND FIRE SEASON CLOSURE DATE

 Tree and shrub prunings may be burned by residents of single family or duplex dwellings provided the requirements are followed.  Burning is only allowed outside urban reserve or village reserve lines and with a valid APCD Backyard Burn Permit.  Burning at commercial and industrial sites or by agencies is prohibited. 

Prohibited Areas:

**Arroyo Grande                       Los Osos/Baywood Park

**Atascadero                             Morro Bay

Avila Beach                          Nipomo

Black Lake                                 Oak Shores

Callendar-Garrett                        Oceano

Cambria                                      Paso Robles

Cayucos                                     Palo Mesa

Creston                                      Pismo Beach

Edna/Los Ranchos                      San Luis Obispo

Garden Farms                             San Simeon Acres

Grover Beach                        Santa Margarita

Halcyon                                       San Miguel

Heritage Ranch                            Shandon

Jardine                                        Templeton

Los Berros                                  Whitley Gardens

Woodlands

**The cities of Arroyo Grande & Atascadero have their own hazard reduction burn program.  Residents should contact those fire agencies directly for details.

Requirements

1.      PERMIT FROM APCD and PAID $10.00 Fee REQUIRED.  APCD Permits will be available from all CAL FIRE Stations. CAL FIRE does not issue these APCD permits. 

2.      Burn Permit can be completed by applicant with the $10.00 fee included and mailed to APCD in envelope provided.  Permit is not valid until fee is paid. 

3.      Material to be burned is limited to tree and shrub pruning’s.  These materials shall be dry and free of dirt and surface moisture.  Burning grass clippings, piles of leaves and piles of pine needles is prohibited. 

Note: A minimum drying time of three (3) weeks from time of cutting is required.

4.       Piles must be no larger than four (4) feet in height and six (6) feet in diameter.

 5.       Burning will not be allowed if measurable rainfall has occurred within the last five (5) days.

6.       Burning must begin after 10:00 a.m. and be completed by 4:00 p.m. (These hours [weather] facilitate smoke dispersal.)

 7.       An adult must attend burning operation at all times and have a functioning water hose apable of extinguishing the fire.

 8.       Burning to be conducted on permissive burn days ONLY.

 9.       Party must call 1-800-834-2876 BEFORE burning.

          10.  Burning (smoke and ash) shall not cause a nuisance, impacting neighbors.

Dooryard tree prunings may be burned by residents of single family or duplex dwellings provided the requirements are followed.  Permits are not required.  Burning at commercial and industrial sites or by agencies is prohibited. 

Definition:

Materials resulting from agricultural operations, either growing crops or raising animals.  Examples are: range improvement, grain stubble, pea vines, orchard and/or vineyard trimmings and prunings.  Agricultural burning may include disease and pest prevention deemed necessary by San Luis Obispo County Agricultural Commissioner's office.  Agricultural burning is for income generating agriculture operations, not “backyard hobbies”.  Materials to be burned must be dry and free of dirt.

             Requirements:

            1.      Inspection per Battalion Chief requirements.

2.      CAL FIRE LE-5 Permit.

3.      APCD Permit.  Permittee is responsible for mailing the APCD permit fee to the Air Pollution Control District.

4.      Burn on permissive burn days only.

5.      Permittee must call 1-800-834-2876 before burning.  Permittee provides dispatch pertinent data.

6.      Burning hours: Daylight hours only.

 3.       Development Burning 

Definition:  Burning of native trees, vines, brush cleared from property being developed. 

Pre-requisite:  Applicant must possess valid County development building permit.

Note:  CAL FIRE does not issue the APCD permit. 

            Requirements: 

1.      Applicant must obtain an “Application and Permit for Development Burning” from APCD.  An APCD representative must approve and sign the APCD permit prior to obtaining a CDF LE-5 permit (see misc. info section for APCD info).

2.      Inspection per Battalion Chief requirements.

3.      CAL FIRE verifies applicant has APCD permit, then issues LE-5 permit.

4.      Burn on permissive burn days only.

5.      Permittee must call 1-800-834-2876 before burning.  Permittee provides dispatch pertinent data.

6.      Burning hours:  Daylight hours only. 

4. Incinerator Burning 

    Definition:

As of January 4, 2003, burning household trash in burn barrels or dooryard incinerators is prohibited in all areas of San Luis Obispo County located west of the Range 15 East/Range 16 East boundary line AND prohibited in all areas located west of the Range 33 West/Range 32 West boundary line.  This prohibition also applies to California Valley. 

For those areas of the county located east of the above boundary lines, burning household trash in an approved burn barrel or incinerator is allowed under the following requirements: 

1.      LE-62 permit required from CAL FIRE.

2.      Permit is valid for the current calendar year and expires on December 31 of the same year.

3.      Permit valid only on approved “Burn Days”.

4.      Only non-glossy paper and cardboard may be burned.

5.      SEE ATTACHED SAMPLE PERMIT AND MAP

    Definition:

Burning of dried tree/brush prunings outside the scope of the dooryard/open burn periods.  The intent of this type of burning should be limited to meeting the standards of PRC 4291/PRC 4290 or to mitigate special fire hazards shown as “snowdown”.  Person doing hazard reduction burning must not create a smoke nuisance or hazard.

NOTE:  CAL FIRE does not issue APCD permit.

1.      CAL FIRE verifies material to be burned is a fire hazard.

2.      Inspection per Battalion Chief requirements.

3.      CAL FIRE contacts APCD and provides APCD the applicant information and pertinent data.

4.      APCD will: a) authorize immediately or b) authorize after APCD conducts their own inspection.

5.      CAL FIRE issues LE-5 permit.

6.      CAL FIRE indicates on LE-5 the name of the authorized APCD representative.

7.      Burn on permissive burn days only.

8.      Permittee must call 1-800-834-2876 before burning and provide dispatch with the pertinent data.

9.      Burning hours:  Daylight hours only.

6. Range Improvement Burning

 Definition:

The use of open fires to remove vegetation for wildlife habitat, or livestock habitat, or for the initial establishment of an agricultural practice on previously uncultivated land.

Requirements: 

Issued by Battalion Chief/Unit Forester only.  LE-6 (Application), LE-7 (Burning Permit), and LE-8 (Minimum Precautions) are required.  An APCD Smoke Management Plan is required. 

7.   Campfires

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 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, LE-63

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.

MISC. INFORMATION & DEFINITIONS 

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 escape fire requires law enforcement action regardless of the time of year.  Any escape fire that does not burn the property of another still requires LE action.

3)     Violating any term and condition listed on a CAL FIRE permit is a misdemeanor.  Such non-compliance invalidates the respective permit.  Non-compliance may result in LE action (civil and criminal).

4)     PRC 4423(b) requires burning permits (LE-5 and LE-62) beginning May 1, regardless of the opening of fire season.  Permits are required until the close of fire season.

5)     San Luis Obispo County Air Pollution Control District (APCD) personnel will enforce applicable APCD regulations.

URBAN RESERVE AREA

Where County has drawn an area of influence around a particular area of an incorporated city or community, and the city or community has influence on the growth of expansion of the particular area.  Each fire station has maps depicting urban reserve areas within their response areas.  Incinerators are not permitted.

ESTIMATED SIZE OF ONE TON

One ton of vegetation matter is equal to a pile 15 feet in diameter, by 5 feet in height.  On LE-5 of APCD attachment specifies tons or acres - not both.

AIR POLLUTION CONTROL DISTRICT (APCD)