TUOLUMNE COUNTY AIR POLLUTION CONTROL DISTRICT REGULATIONS
FOR
HAZARD REDUCTION BURNING

If you are a business, commercial or residential entity, you are allowed to burn vegetation to reduce a fire hazard. At no other time is a commercial or industrial entity allowed to burn. The following are requirements as specified in District Regulation III -Open Burning:

  1. All burn projects of this type must have a Tuolumne County APCD Burn Permit. You may also need a burn permit from your local fire agency.
  1. You must call and receive authorization from the APCD prior to any burning. For planning purposes, most burns may receive burn authorization the day prior to the burn. Call the APCD at (209) 533-5693 to request authorization to burn.
  1. Burning must be conducted on an Air Resources Board declared burn day.
  1. Only clean dry vegetation is allowed to be burned. The recommended drying times for vegetation are as followed:

Material Size                                                   Drying Times                                   

Green straw, stubble, grass                               3 Days        
Less than 6 inches in diameter                           3–6 Weeks
Greater than 6 inches in diameter                       6 Weeks      

   5.      Vegetation to be burned must be arranged so that it will burn with a minimum of smoke.

  1. Vegetation to be burned must be arranged so that it will burn with a minimum of smoke. Only that amount of vegetation that can be reasonably expected to burn within eight hours shall be ignited in anyone day. Material to be burned shall be ignited as rapidly as practicable within applicable fire control restrictions.
  1. All vegetation to be burned must originate from the property on which you are burning. The burning of any material other than vegetation is prohibited.
  1. The burner shall take mitigating measures when smoke is drifting into a nearby-populated area or is creating a public nuisance. The APCD may require the burner extinguish all fires if a smoke impact condition exists.
  1. It is the burners responsibility to know and understand the burning regulations. A violation of APCD rules and regulations is a misdemeanor and can subject the burner to monetary penalties and the loss of the right to burn.
  1. If you have any questions, please call the Tuolumne County APCD at:

(209) 533-5693.

BURN BARREL BAN EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2004

All areas of Tuolumne County EXCEPT within the following zip codes:

95305, 05311(East of Enramada Drive), 95314, 95321, 95364, 95375