Burn permits and fire pits in Pasadena, California
You can't burn brush, yard waste or trash at a Pasadena home: South Coast AQMD Rule 444 prohibits residential burning. Recreational fires and fires using natural gas, propane, untreated wood or charcoal for cooking or warmth at a gathering are exempt from the burn-permit system, and Pasadena's fire code lets portable outdoor fireplaces be used at one- and two-family homes per the manufacturer's instructions.
| Burning brush or household waste | Prohibited (residential burning) [1] |
| Recreational fires / cooking fires | Exempt from burn-day and permit rules (clean fuels) [3] |
| Portable outdoor fireplaces | Use per manufacturer; 15-ft rule waived at one- and two-family homes [4] |
| Other open burning | Only on permissive burn days with a written permit and daily Burn Authorization Number [5] |
| Allowed fuels for cooking/warming fires | Natural gas, propane, untreated wood or charcoal [3] |
No brush or trash burning
Pasadena is in the South Coast Air Quality Management District. Its Rule 444 flatly prohibits residential burning and the disposal of waste by open burning [1]. Residential burning means burning combustible or flammable solid waste from a residence on its premises [2], so yard trimmings, brush and household trash can't be burned at home. The district may authorize burning to abate a fire hazard only when a fire protection agency determines it can't be removed another way.
Fire pits, barbecues and recreational fires
Rule 444's permit and burn-day requirements don't apply to recreational or ceremonial fires, or to burning natural gas, propane, untreated wood or charcoal to cook food or generate warmth at a social gathering [3]. That covers a backyard barbecue, gas fire pit or wood fire pit used for warmth, provided you burn only those clean fuels.
Pasadena's fire code (2025 California Fire Code with local amendments, adopted Nov. 10, 2025) says portable outdoor fireplaces must be used according to the manufacturer's instructions and kept 15 feet from structures or combustible material, but exempts those used at one- and two-family dwellings from the 15-foot distance [4]. Even so, keep a fire pit well away from fences, eaves and vegetation.
Burn days and seasonal limits
Any open burning that is allowed must happen on a declared permissive (or marginal) burn day, with a written permit from the district or fire agency and a daily Burn Authorization Number requested by 4 p.m. the day before [5]. Rule 444 also refers to mandatory winter wood-burning curtailments from November through February under AQMD Rule 445, which wasn't among the sources reviewed; check the AQMD's daily No-Burn alerts before using a wood fire pit in winter.
Fire hazard areas
Pasadena has adopted a Fire Hazard Severity Zone Map (March 24, 2025). Properties in very high fire hazard areas face added vegetation rules (Ch. 14.29, not reviewed here).
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Next steps
- Dispose of brush and yard waste through green-waste collection or chipping instead of burning.
- Use only natural gas, propane, untreated wood or charcoal in a fire pit or barbecue, following the manufacturer's instructions.
- Before lighting a wood fire November through February, check South Coast AQMD's No-Burn day forecast.
- For any other burning (e.g., hazard abatement), contact Pasadena Fire Department and South Coast AQMD for a written permit and Burn Authorization Number.
Common questions
- Can I burn yard waste or brush in Pasadena, California?
- No. South Coast AQMD Rule 444 prohibits residential burning of brush, yard waste or trash at a Pasadena home.
- Can I have a fire pit in Pasadena, California?
- Yes, in some cases. Recreational fires and cooking or warming fires using natural gas, propane, untreated wood or charcoal are exempt from the burn-permit system. Check South Coast AQMD's No-Burn day forecast before lighting a wood fire November through February.
- Do I need a burn permit in Pasadena, California?
- Not for recreational or cooking fires with clean fuels. Other open burning is allowed only on permissive burn days with a written permit and daily Burn Authorization Number.
- Can I use a portable outdoor fireplace in Pasadena, California?
- Yes, at one- and two-family homes, following the manufacturer's instructions. Pasadena's fire code waives the 15-ft rule there.
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
- Rule 444(d)(3)(A)-(B), South Coast AQMD Rule 444 - Open Burning, p. 9
(3) A person is prohibited from open burning for: (A) Residential burning (B) Disposal of waste, except as specified in (d)(2) above, including hospital waste
- Rule 444(c)(28), South Coast AQMD Rule 444 - Open Burning, p. 6
RESIDENTIAL BURNING means open burning for the purposes of disposing of combustible or flammable solid waste, excluding Russian thistle, from a specific residence on its premises.
- Rule 444(h)(6), South Coast AQMD Rule 444 - Open Burning, p. 15
Except for the requirements of subparagraph (d)(3) and (d)(4), the provisions of this rule shall not apply to: (A) Recreational fires or ceremonial fires, including fires conducted pursuant to United States Code, Title 4, Chapter 1, Section 8. (B) Open burning of natural gas, propane, untreated wood, or charcoal for the purpose of: (i) Preparation or warming of food for human consumption; or (ii) Generating warmth at a social gathering.
- Sec. 14.28.050 (IFC 307.4.3), Municipal Code Chapter 14.28 - Fire Prevention Code (local amendments), p. 1
Portable outdoor fireplaces shall be used in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions and shall not be operated within 15 feet (3048 mm) of a structure or combustible material. Exception: 1. Portable outdoor fireplaces used at one-and two-family dwellings.
- Rule 444(d)(1)(A)-(B), South Coast AQMD Rule 444 - Open Burning, p. 7
(1) A person shall not conduct or allow open burning unless all of the following are met: (A) The Executive Officer has declared the day a permissive burn day or a marginal burn day on which burning is permitted in the applicable source/receptor area and such burning is not prohibited by the applicable public fire protection agency.