Open Burning

***ALWAYS CHECK WITH YOUR LOCAL FIRE DISTRICT FOR BURN PERMIT REQUIREMENTS.***
MONTEREY AND SAN BENITO COUNTY RESIDENTS: YOU ARE REQUIRED TO GET A BURN PERMIT FROM YOUR LOCAL FIRE AGENCY.

The Backyard Burn Season will be active December 1, 2022 - April 30, 2023. Applications for Backyard Burn permits are available at Backyard Burn Permit Online Application.

Smoke management is the use of techniques such as meteorology, fuel moisture, fuel loading, fire suppression and other burn methods to minimize the smoke impacts from fires. Accordingly, the purpose of the MBARD's Smoke Management Program is to minimize the air quality impacts of open burning.

Backyard burning is the burning of green waste material by occupants of single- or two-family dwellings. Backyard burn season is December 1 through April 30.

BROCHURE: Backyard Burning of Dry Vegetation in San Lorenzo Valley

BROCHURE: Backyard Burning of Dry Vegetation in Monterey, San Benito, and Santa CruZ Counties (excluding San Lorenzo Valley)

Agricultural burning is used in the growing of crops, the raising of fowl, animals, or bees as a gainful occupation.

Prescribed burning is the use of broadcast or pile burns for the purposes of managing wildlands, range improvement, or improving wildlife habitat.

Development burns are for disposing of dry vegetation grown on a property being developed for commercial or residential purposes. Please contact the MBARD office to apply for a Development Burn Permit.

APPLY FOR BURN PERMITS:

In an already challenging year, the Monterey Bay Air Resources District has been working to simplify many of the permitting and grant program application processes. This new, easier application process will now include the Backyard and Agricultural Permit Programs.

The following are some of the changes to expect:

NO more Usernames and Passwords!
NO more Renewals
Simple annual form to fill out and submit
SLV BURNERS: the authorization process will be accessed by a simple link included in your permit email.

We hope this change will be welcome and the new process simple. Should you have any questions you can contact us, as always, for assistance.

LINKS TO PERMIT APPLICATIONS:

Backyard Burn Permit Online Application

Agricultural Burn Permit Online Application

Prescribed Burn Permit Online Application - for support contact Irene at 831-718-8021 or imiranda@mbard.org

Applicable Rules and Regulations:

Rule 438 Title 17: Smoke Management Guidelines for Agricultural and Prescribed Burning

Burn Type Information

What are the Different Types of Burns?Trash Burning Ban Warming Fires Guidelines

Health Effects of Smoke

How Smoke Can Affect Your Health Visibility and Particle Concentration

Recent Press Releases