Burn permits and fire pits in Carpinteria, California
Mostly no. Carpinteria's municipal code has no backyard burning rules, so this answer rests on the Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District's open-burning page: burning waste in an open fire is banned except commercial agricultural waste and permitted backyard burning of plant trimmings in specific areas. Fire pits and recreational fires are set by the Carpinteria-Summerland Fire Protection District, whose rules we didn't review, so check with the district.
| Burning waste in an open fire | Prohibited, with two narrow exceptions (APCD) [1] |
| Backyard burning of plant trimmings | Only in specific areas, by permit, under strict conditions [1] |
| Who regulates | Santa Barbara County APCD (air quality) and the Fire Department (safety) [2] |
| Fire agency | Carpinteria-Summerland Fire Protection District [3] |
| Fireworks | Use and sale prohibited in the city [4] |
Who sets the rules
Carpinteria's own municipal code doesn't regulate backyard fires or brush burning. Open burning is regulated by the Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District (APCD), which handles air quality, and by the fire department, which handles public safety [2]. The city is part of the Carpinteria-Summerland Fire Protection District [3].
Brush and yard waste
The APCD prohibits burning waste of any kind in an open fire. There are two exceptions: waste from commercial agricultural operations, under strict conditions, and backyard burning of plant trimmings and leaves, allowed only in specific areas by permit and under strict conditions [1]. The APCD page we reviewed doesn't say which areas qualify. Most urban residential lots in a small coastal city are unlikely to be eligible, so plan to compost or use green-waste collection unless the APCD confirms otherwise.
Fire pits and recreational fires
The APCD lists outdoor campfires and cooking fires under "other types of burning," separate from its permit burning programs [6]. Rules on backyard fire pits, outdoor fireplaces and recreational fires usually come from the fire code as adopted by the local fire district. We didn't review the Carpinteria-Summerland Fire Protection District's fire code, so check with the district before using a wood-burning fire pit, especially during high fire danger. Smoke and odors from any burning are subject to the APCD's nuisance rule [7].
Beaches, parks and fireworks
In city parks and on public beaches, fires are allowed only in areas the city manager designates, such as stoves, barbecue pits and fire rings [5]. The discharge or sale of fireworks is prohibited in the city [4].
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Next steps
- Don't burn trash or yard waste at home unless the Santa Barbara County APCD confirms your property is in a backyard-burning area and issues a permit.
- Before using a wood-burning fire pit or outdoor fireplace, call the Carpinteria-Summerland Fire Protection District to confirm its rules and any burn restrictions.
- Use city green-waste collection for trimmings and leaves.
Common questions
- Can I burn yard waste in Carpinteria, California?
- Mostly no. The Santa Barbara County APCD bans burning waste in an open fire, except commercial agricultural waste and permitted backyard burning of plant trimmings in specific areas. Most urban lots are unlikely to qualify, so plan to compost or use green-waste collection unless the APCD confirms otherwise.
- Are fire pits allowed in Carpinteria, California?
- It depends on the fire district. Fire pit and recreational fire rules come from the Carpinteria-Summerland Fire Protection District, whose rules we didn't review, so check with the district before using a wood-burning fire pit.
- Can I have a fire on the beach in Carpinteria, California?
- Only in designated areas. In city parks and on public beaches, fires are allowed only where the city manager designates, such as stoves, barbecue pits and fire rings.
- Are fireworks legal in Carpinteria, California?
- No. The discharge or sale of fireworks is prohibited in the city.
California rules on outdoor burning and fire pits
Outdoor burning is controlled mainly by your regional air district and CAL FIRE or your local fire agency, and city codes add more limits.
Statewide rules:
- No trash burning: since January 1, 2004, a California Air Resources Board rule has banned burning household garbage outdoors at homes, and burn barrels can't be used, even for vegetation. Dry vegetation grown on the property may be burned in open piles unless local rules prohibit it, on days the air district allows.
- Fire permits in wildland areas: in state responsibility areas and other areas CAL FIRE protects, burning brush or other vegetation needs a written permit during fire season, and at any time in some zones (Pub. Res. Code §4423).
- Cooking and recreational fires are not covered by the state open-burning ban (Health & Safety Code §41806). Air districts can still restrict them.
Examples of air district rules (check yours):
- Bay Area Air District: open burning is prohibited unless a specific exemption applies (Regulation 5). Recreational fires are allowed except during a Mandatory Burn Ban. During a Spare the Air Alert, it's illegal to burn wood in fireplaces, wood stoves or outdoor fire pits (Regulation 6, Rule 3).
- South Coast AQMD: residential burning (burning a home's combustible waste on site) is banned (Rule 444). From November through February, declared No-Burn days bar indoor and outdoor wood-burning devices, including fire pits and chimineas (Rule 445), with some exemptions.
Other districts have their own burn-day systems; check yours and your city fire code.
What the ordinance says
- Open Burning, Santa Barbara County APCD - Open Burning
Burning waste of any kind in an open fire is prohibited, except 1) to dispose of waste produced by commercial agricultural operations, which must be done under strict conditions, and 2) backyard burning of plant trimmings and leaves allowed in specific areas by permit and under strict conditions.
- Open Burning, Santa Barbara County APCD - Open Burning
Regulated by the Air Pollution Control District (APCD) and the Fire Department
- Sec. 8.24.010, Municipal Code Title 8 Ch. 8.24 Fire Prevention, p. 1
The city is embraced and included within the Carpinteria-Summerland Fire Protection District, state of California.
- Sec. 8.24.020, Municipal Code Title 8 Ch. 8.24 Fire Prevention, p. 1
The sale of fireworks within the city is prohibited.
- Sec. 12.24.020(3), Municipal Code Title 12 Ch. 12.24 Public Parks and Beaches, p. 1
To start or maintain any fire, except in such areas as are specifically designated by the city manager for such fires, including stoves, barbecue pits, fire rings and the like;
- Open Burning, Other Types of Burning, Santa Barbara County APCD - Open Burning
Outdoor Campfires and Cooking Fires
- Open Burning, Santa Barbara County APCD - Open Burning
Smoke and Odors from burning are subject to APCD Rule 303 Nuisance