Burn permits and fire pits in Rancho Palos Verdes, California
You can't burn brush, yard waste or trash at a Rancho Palos Verdes home: South Coast AQMD Rule 444 bans residential burning and burning to dispose of waste. Recreational fires, and fires using propane, natural gas, untreated wood or charcoal for cooking or warmth at a gathering, are exempt from that rule. The city's own code doesn't regulate fire pits; it adopts the Los Angeles County Fire Code, enforced by LA County Fire.
| Brush and yard-waste burning | Prohibited (residential burning and waste disposal banned) [3] |
| What 'residential burning' means | Burning a home's combustible or flammable solid waste on site [2] |
| Recreational fires | Exempt from Rule 444's permit and burn-day rules [4] |
| Cooking and warming fires | Exempt if fueled by natural gas, propane, untreated wood or charcoal [5] |
| Fire code | Los Angeles County Fire Code (Title 32), adopting the 2025 California Fire Code [6] |
| Penalty | Misdemeanor unless listed as an infraction; each day is a separate offense [7] |
No brush or trash burning
Rancho Palos Verdes's own code doesn't address open burning, so the rules come from the South Coast Air Quality Management District. Rule 444 (the July 12, 2013 version we reviewed) applies to anyone conducting or allowing open burning, and it defines residential burning as burning combustible or flammable solid waste from a home on its own premises [1][2]. Residential burning, and burning to dispose of waste, are prohibited [3]. Brush, leaves and yard trimmings should go in green-waste collection instead. Allowed open burning (such as agricultural or fire-hazard abatement burns) requires a permissive burn day, a written permit and a daily burn authorization number, so it isn't an option for homeowners.
Fire pits and recreational fires
Except for the residential-burning and waste-disposal bans, Rule 444 doesn't apply to recreational or ceremonial fires [4], or to burning natural gas, propane, untreated wood or charcoal to cook food or to generate warmth at a social gathering [5]. A backyard fire pit or outdoor fireplace burning clean wood, gas or charcoal is therefore not banned by the air district, though other AQMD rules on wood burning (such as winter no-burn days under Rule 445) may apply and weren't in the sources we reviewed.
City and fire code
The city's municipal code has no fire-pit or burn-permit section of its own. It adopts Title 32 of the Los Angeles County Code (the county fire code, based on the 2025 California Fire Code) as the city's fire code [6], and the Los Angeles County Fire Department enforces it. The county fire code's rules on open and recreational fires weren't included in our sources. Violating the fire code is a misdemeanor unless the violation is listed as an infraction, and each day is a separate offense [7]. Anyone who sets a fire or lets one escape can be billed for the cost of fighting it.
Wildfire areas
Much of the Palos Verdes Peninsula is fire-prone hillside; check fire-weather restrictions before any outdoor fire.
Next steps
- Don't burn yard waste, brush or trash; use your green-waste and trash collection.
- For a fire pit or outdoor fireplace, burn only clean dry wood, charcoal, propane or natural gas, and check South Coast AQMD no-burn alerts.
- Ask the Los Angeles County Fire Department about fire-pit placement rules and any red-flag restrictions for your area.
Common questions
- Can I burn yard waste in Rancho Palos Verdes, California?
- No. South Coast AQMD Rule 444 bans residential burning and burning to dispose of waste, so you can't burn brush, yard waste or trash at a Rancho Palos Verdes home. Use green-waste and trash collection instead.
- Are fire pits allowed in Rancho Palos Verdes, California?
- Recreational fires and fires using propane, natural gas, untreated wood or charcoal for cooking or warmth are exempt from Rule 444. The city's own code doesn't regulate fire pits; it adopts the Los Angeles County Fire Code, so ask LA County Fire about placement and red-flag restrictions.
- What is the penalty for illegal burning in Rancho Palos Verdes, California?
- Violating the city's fire code is a misdemeanor unless the violation is listed as an infraction, and each day is a separate offense. Anyone who sets a fire or lets one escape can be billed for the cost of fighting it.
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
- SCAQMD Rule 444(b), South Coast AQMD Rule 444 - Open Burning (amended July 12, 2013), p. 1
The provisions of this rule shall apply to any person conducting or allowing any open burning including, but not limited to:
- SCAQMD Rule 444(c)(28), South Coast AQMD Rule 444 - Open Burning (amended July 12, 2013), 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.
- SCAQMD Rule 444(d)(3), South Coast AQMD Rule 444 - Open Burning (amended July 12, 2013), 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
- SCAQMD Rule 444(h)(6)(A), South Coast AQMD Rule 444 - Open Burning (amended July 12, 2013), 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.
- SCAQMD Rule 444(h)(6)(B), South Coast AQMD Rule 444 - Open Burning (amended July 12, 2013), p. 15
(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. 8.08.010, Municipal Code Title 8 Ch. 8.08 Fire Code, p. 1
Except as hereinafter provided, title 32, Fire Code, of the Los Angeles County Code, as amended and in effect on January 2, 2025, adopting the California Fire Code, 2025 Edition (California Code of Regulations title 24, part 9), is hereby incorporated herein by reference as if fully set forth herein, and shall be known and may be cited as the fire code of the City of Rancho Palos Verdes.
- Sec. 8.08.030(A), Municipal Code Title 8 Ch. 8.08 Fire Code, p. 1
Every person violating any provision of the fire code or of any permit or license granted hereunder, or any rule, regulation or policy promulgated pursuant hereto, is guilty of a misdemeanor unless such violation is otherwise declared to be an infraction by section