The annual season for backyard burning of natural vegetation
runs from this week through April 30 in San Benito, Monterey and
Santa Cruz counties. This is the only time of the season that
backyard or so-called development burning is permitted.
The annual season for backyard burning of natural vegetation runs from this week through April 30 in San Benito, Monterey and Santa Cruz counties. This is the only time of the season that backyard or so-called development burning is permitted.
Agricultural and prescribed burns can be conducted year-round on permissive burn days. Barbecues, recreational fire and in-home fireplaces and wood stoves are not affected by the backyard burn season, though burning of garbage or treated wood is prohibited at all times.
For backyard burns, residents of one- or two-family dwellings may burn clean and dry yard trimmings that comes from vegetation grown on-site. No Monterey Bay Unified Air Pollution Control District permit is required for this type of burning, though residents must check with their local fire agency to see if such burning is allowed and to get any necessary permits.
Development burns, which is the burning of cleared wood and brush from commercial or residential development projects, is also allowed during the backyard burn season. An air district permit is required for these burns.
The California Air Resources Board declares permissive burn days when good smoke dispersion conditions are forecasted. People can call 1-800-225-2876 after 4 p.m. to find out the next day’s burn status.
Air district officials remind backyard burners that while burning is permitted, there are cleaner alternatives that don’t pollute the air, such as chipping, composting, using grazing animals such as goats to clear vegetation, and hauling wood waste to landfills where it can be mulched.
Smoke management brochures and fact sheets are available online at www.mbuapcd.org or by calling Smoke Management Coordinator Betsy Hibbits at 831-647-9411, ext. 213.
