Burn permits and fire pits in Danville, California
Burning brush or yard waste isn't allowed in Danville: the Bay Area Air District's Regulation 5 bans open burning, and its only homeowner-relevant exception is a fire official-ordered defensible-space burn. A recreational fire such as a fire pit using only clean, dry wood is allowed, except during Mandatory Burn Ban periods. We couldn't review the San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District's fire code, which may add limits.
| Brush/yard-waste burning | Prohibited unless a specific exemption applies [1] |
| Fire pits/recreational fires | Exempt from the ban; clean dry wood only [2] |
| Burn ban days | No recreational fires [4] |
| Cooking fires | Exempt [5] |
| Defensible-space (PRC 4291) burns | Only under a fire official's order; not before 9:30 a.m. [6] |
| Allowed burns: daily limits | Not before 10 a.m.; nothing added after 2 hours before sunset [8] |
Brush and yard-waste burning
This page is based only on the Bay Area Air Quality Management District's Regulation 5 (amended October 1, 2025); we didn't find open-burning rules in the Danville documents we reviewed, and we couldn't get the fire district's code. It bars anyone from igniting or maintaining any fire in the district except as the regulation provides [1]. The allowed categories are agricultural, wildland, fire-hazard and public-agency fires set or approved by officials; there's no exemption for a homeowner burning leaves, brush or trimmings. One narrow case covers natural vegetation cleared under a fire official's defensible-space order (Public Resources Code §4291) [6]. Even then, the material must be impossible to remove by vehicle, with chipping, composting and other alternatives not feasible [7]. Allowed burns can only happen on permissive burn days [9], and most follow daily limits such as no burning before 10 a.m. [8] (defensible-space burns instead can't start before 9:30 a.m. [6]). In practice, chip, compost or haul away yard waste.
Fire pits and recreational fires
A fire set for recreational purposes is exempt from the general prohibition [2]. Recreational fires include campfires, bonfires and handwarming fires, provided only clean dry wood and fire starter is used and the activity isn't part of a business [3]. Fires used only to cook food are exempt too [5].
Burn ban days
Recreational fires are illegal during Mandatory Burn Ban periods declared under the Air District's wood-burning rule [4]. Check the Air District's daily burn status before lighting a fire pit or outdoor fireplace, especially in winter.
Prohibited materials
Only clean, dry wood qualifies as a recreational fire [3]. Burning garbage, treated wood or other materials falls under the general ban.
Fire district
Danville is served by the San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District, whose fire code and wildland-urban interface rules may add restrictions on outdoor fires and fire pits. We couldn't review the district's code, so check with SRVFPD, especially on red-flag days.
See how Danville compares with 8+ other California towns on burn permits & backyard fires →
Next steps
- Don't burn brush, leaves or yard waste; use green-waste collection, chipping or composting.
- Before using a fire pit, check the Bay Area Air District's burn status and skip it on Mandatory Burn Ban days.
- Burn only clean, dry wood in a fire pit or outdoor fireplace.
- Ask the San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District about fire-pit placement and high-fire-danger restrictions.
Common questions
- Can I burn brush or yard waste in Danville, California?
- No. The Bay Area Air District's Regulation 5 bans open burning, and there's no exemption for a homeowner burning leaves, brush or trimmings. Its only homeowner-relevant exception is a fire official-ordered defensible-space burn, and only when other removal isn't feasible. Chip, compost or haul away yard waste instead.
- Are fire pits allowed in Danville, California?
- Yes, with limits. A recreational fire such as a fire pit using only clean, dry wood is exempt from the Air District's ban, except during Mandatory Burn Ban periods. The San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District's fire code may add limits, so check with the district, especially on red-flag days.
- Can I have a fire pit on a Spare the Air day in Danville, California?
- No. Recreational fires are illegal during Mandatory Burn Ban periods declared under the Air District's wood-burning rule, so check the Air District's daily burn status before lighting a fire pit or outdoor fireplace, especially in winter.
- Can I burn trash in my fire pit in Danville, California?
- No. Only clean, dry wood qualifies as a recreational fire. Burning garbage, treated wood or other materials falls under the Air District's general ban.
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
- Reg. 5, Sec. 5-301.1, BAAQMD Regulation 5 - Open Burning (amended October 1, 2025), p. 6
301.1 A person shall not ignite, cause to be ignited, permit to be ignited, or suffer, allow, or maintain any fires within the District.
- Reg. 5, Sec. 5-112, BAAQMD Regulation 5 - Open Burning (amended October 1, 2025), p. 3
5-112 Limited Exemption, Recreational Fires: A fire set for recreational purposes is exempt from the requirements of Section 301.
- Reg. 5, Sec. 5-223, BAAQMD Regulation 5 - Open Burning (amended October 1, 2025), p. 6
5-223 Recreational Fires: A fire used for social, cultural or other activities including, but not limited to, campfires, bonfires, ceremonial fires, handwarming fires, raku or pit pottery curing fires, or fires conducted as part of an unusual event such as fire walking provided only clean dry wood and fire starter is used, and the activity is not part of a business for gainful occupation.
- Reg. 5, Sec. 5-302, BAAQMD Regulation 5 - Open Burning (amended October 1, 2025), p. 6
5-302 Mandatory Burn Ban for Recreational Fires: No person shall ignite, cause to be ignited, permit to be ignited, or suffer, allow, or maintain any recreational fires during Mandatory Burn Ban periods, as defined in Regulation 6, Rule 3: Wood-Burning Devices, Section 6-3-301.
- Reg. 5, Sec. 5-110.1, BAAQMD Regulation 5 - Open Burning (amended October 1, 2025), p. 3
110.1 Fires set only for cooking of food for human beings.
- Reg. 5, Sec. 5-401.6.3, BAAQMD Regulation 5 - Open Burning (amended October 1, 2025), p. 8
Hazardous Material fires conducted to dispose of materials generated to comply with an order or notice issued by a fire official pursuant to Section 4291 of the State Public Resources Code are permitted. Public Resources Code Section 4291 fires are not subject to the requirements of subsection 5-111.1. No fires involving piled material shall be ignited or take place before 9:30 a.m. local time on any day.
- Reg. 5, Sec. 5-401.6.3, BAAQMD Regulation 5 - Open Burning (amended October 1, 2025), p. 8
the material is inaccessible for removal by vehicle and available alternatives to burning such as shredding, chipping, composting, disking, plowing, and harrowing are not feasible; and
- Reg. 5, Sec. 5-111.1, 5-111.2, BAAQMD Regulation 5 - Open Burning (amended October 1, 2025), p. 3
111.1 No burning shall take place before 10:00 a.m. local time on any day. 111.2 No additional materials or fuel shall be ignited, nor shall any material or fuels be added to any fire after two hours before sunset on any day.
- Reg. 5, Sec. 5-301.2, BAAQMD Regulation 5 - Open Burning (amended October 1, 2025), p. 6
301.2 No burning shall take place within the District other than on a permissive burn day, or in excess of any acreage burning allocation or limitation.