Overview

There are two types of burning allowed in Santa Cruz County regulated by the Monterey Bay Unified Air Pollution Control Board (www.mbuapcd.com). At any time should any fire escape your control, you will be held accountable and should expect to pay a fine for cost recovery. The two types are as follows:

Backyard Burning – NEW REQUIREMENTS – Permit Required

Effective 2013, the Monterey Bay Unified Air Pollution Control District now requires a permit for backyard burning. Along with the new permit process, new guidelines regarding who is allowed to obtain a backyard burn permit have been implemented.

Backyard burn permits are NOT issued by the Pajaro Valley Fire District and MUST be obtained through the Monterey Bay Unified Air Pollution Control District.

For more information regarding the rules and regulations for backyard burning please refer to the following:

www.montereybaycleanair.org

If you do not have computer access, you will need to contact them via telephone at:

831-647-9411

Agricultural Burning - Permit Required

To qualify for an agricultural burn permit the following must pertain: The fire must be used for the purpose of initiating, continuing or maintaining agriculture as a gainful occupation. Fuels are limited to materials grown on site and shall not include feed or fertilizer containers, finished or treated wood, plastic or rubber products, plumage, hides, fur, offal or fecal material or refuse from plant or animal processing other than from initial crop harvesting, pruning, or attrition of fruit an nut trees, vine and cane crops.

If you live within the Pajaro Valley Fire District and wish to obtain a burn permit, you may come to the fire station and the Chief may issue you one at no charge, provided you meet the criteria set forth in the above stated paragraph.

Permits for agricultural burns typically will be issued as follows:

• In State Responsibility Areas permits may be issued between the months of Dec.1 thru April 30.
• In Local Responsibility Area permits may be issued throughout the year.

All Types of Burning Must Abide by The Following Rules

• Piles should be no larger that 4'x 4'
• Water must be available and at the burn site
• An adult shall be in attendance at all times
• Burning shall be during daylight hours ONLY
• Piles will be surrounded by a ten foot circle cut to bare mineral soil
• Burning is allowed only on burn days referred to as "Yes" or "Permissive" burn days regulated by MBUAPCB. To find out if a day is a Yes or No burn day call: 1-800-CAL-BURN