As of October 13, 2025, CalFire lifts burn permit suspension in Sonoma County. A permit is required to burn.
You can always check the latest status on the Cal Fire burn permit site here.
Burning is currently allowed. Permit Required.
Burn Season Process
Get a Cal Fire burn permit
Burn Permit is required and you need a new one each calendar year. In order to apply for the permit, you will need to watch a short safety video.
Notify BAAQMD
A Bay Area Air Quality Management District Burn Notification is required for any brush burning. This form is called the Open Burning Notification Form and you can click below to download or request one by calling 415-749-4600.
NOTE: There is an annual fee associated with the filing of this form. The category for defensible space is “ hazard reduction”. The form is good for 12 months from the date of filing.
See if it is a burn day
Once you have sent in the burn notification and paid the fee, you need to call BAAQMD or check their website at after 3pm the day prior to the burn to see if burning is allowed for our area – i.e there is no Spare the Air in effect for the North bay.
Call them at 1-800-792-0787 to hear the recorded message. The recorded message may say that if you are in a CA SRA area (we are) that Cal Fire must inspect your burn piles. This does not currently apply to homeowner burning in our area.
Notify local fire officials the day of the burn
On the day of your burn you must notify the county fire dispatch at REDCOM that you will be burning at 1-707-565-1700. They will ask for your location and a contact number.
Burn safely
The details on timing and pile size are on the back of the BAAQMD Burn Notification form. In addition, we offer these tips:
- Brush should be dried a minimum of 60 days before burning so that it does not create excessive smoke.
- Only dry, natural, vegetative material such as brush and tree trimmings that originated on the property may be burned.
- No burning before 10am for air quality reasons, and last additions to the burn pile 2 hours before sunset
- We suggest piles no larger than four feet in diameter. Cal fire burn permits (when required) specify this size for residential burning. If you have more than that to burn, feed it onto your 4 foot burn pile. Piles can be larger, but be aware they are harder to control. See size limits on the back of the BAAQMD burn form.
- Provide ten feet of clearance around the pile by removing all material that will burn, down to bare mineral soil.
- Have a water source on hand – a garden hose or a minimum of a five gallon backpack, pump type water extinguisher.
- A responsible adult needs to be in attendance at all times.
- NEVER burn on windy days.