Residential burn permits available for El Dorado and Placer counties; Banned in South Lake Tahoe
Submitted by paula on Thu, 04/29/2021 - 4:23pm
Starting May 1, residents in unincorporated areas of El Dorado County, Placer County, and Alpine County will be able to receive a residential burn permit. The permits are available to the public for free and allow homeowners to burn dry landscape vegetation (NOT household trash) that originates from the landowner’s property.
The City of South Lake Tahoe does not allow for residential burning at this time due to concerns of wildfire.
“Escaped residential burn piles continue to be a leading cause of wildland fires. Exercise extreme caution while burning landscape debris,” says CalFire Amador-El Dorado Unit Chief, Mike Blankenheim.”
The use of a burn barrel is illegal in Amador and El Dorado counties.
For tips on residential landscape debris burning safety or other fire and life safety topics, please visit the CAL FIRE website at www.fire.ca.gov.
To acquire a permit, applicants may access the website at https://burnpermit.fire.ca.gov watch the mandatory video which reviews burning requirements and safety tips, fill in the required fields, submit the form and a dooryard burn permit will be created. The applicant must then print and sign the permit.
Permits are valid for the calendar year in which issued though the allowable burn season will be over about June 1. They must be reissued annually on or after January 1 of each year. If an online permit is not an option and you reside in the Amador-El Dorado Unit service area, call (530) 644-2345 for assistance.
Due to social distancing guidelines, the public is asked to not attempt to obtain a permit in person.
Contact the local Air Quality Management District to determine what permit requirements or burning restrictions apply in your area and ALWAYS call to ensure burn day status.
Amador County (209) 223-6246
El Dorado County (530) 621-5897
Sacramento County (916) 874-4800
Alpine County (760) 872-8211 ext. 240
South Lake Tahoe (530) 621-5842, (888) 332-2876
For alternatives to burning your piles, please contact the El Dorado County Fire Safe Council at www.edcfiresafe.org for details on available programs.
When burning, ensure that piles from landscape debris are no larger than 4-ft. in diameter, have a 10-ft. clearance to bare soil around the burn pile and that a responsible adult attends all times with a water source and a shovel.
For more information on how you can protect your family, home, and property by creating and maintaining defensible space visit www.readyforwildfire.