Instructions for Backyard Burn Permits How to Get a Backyard Burn Permit How to Find Out if you are in a Smoke Sensitive Area How to Find your Burn Zone How to Find out if it is a Burn Day in your Burn Zone How to Request Daily Authorization to Burn Daily Authorization via Website Daily Authorization via Telephone How to Get a Backyard Burn Permit 1. Open the Backyard Burn Permit Application page: http://69.12.229.62/burnpermits/default.aspx is the direct link. You can also go to www.montereybaycleanair.org click on Burn Permits click on Backyard Burns
2. Click on Register 3. Choose a User Name, Enter your E-mail address, and Choose a Password. Then click Create User.
4. Click on the area in which your burn will be located. Your choices are: a. Monterey Peninsula/Carmel Valley Smoke Sensitive Area b. San Lorenzo Valley Smoke Sensitive Area, or c. Non-Smoke Sensitive Area. How to find out if you are in a smoke sensitive area 5. Fill out the online application. First you will see a box that looks like one of these: a. For the Monterey Peninsula Smoke Sensitive Area:
b. For the San Lorenzo Valley Smoke Sensitive Area: c. For the Non Smoke Sensitive Area:
6. If you do not meet all the eligibility requirements, you will not be able to continue on to the application. In some cases, waivers may be granted. To request a waiver, call the Air District at (831) 647-9411, Monday through Friday, 8:00 am 5:00 pm. 7. Fill out the application form: You will need the following information: a. Fire District b. Burn Zone c. Your name d. Phone number(s) e. Property Owner (if different from applicant) f. Person responsible for conducting the burn g. Your email address h. Your mailing address i. Burn site address j. How many piles
k. Average diameter of piles l. Average height of piles m. Type of material you plan to burn n. Comments are optional 8. Read the conditions below the application. Read the permit conditions carefully to make sure you understand them. If you have any questions, call the Air District at (831) 647-9411. THIS BACKYARD OPEN BURN PERMIT IS VALID ONLY IF ALL OF THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS ARE MET: 1. This burn permit may be revoked, suspended, or terminated for violation of any condition specified or when necessary for public safety by the APCO or his designated deputy. In addition, burn permit holders must also comply with local fire protection agency permit requirements. 2. Only dry natural vegetation originating on this property may be burned there. 3. It is illegal to burn grass clippings, piled leaves/needles, garbage, household rubbish, and treated wood 4. Fires may only be lit on permissive burn days. To determine burn status, check the APCD Website at http://www.montereybaycleanair.org/, click on Current Air Quality and Forecast, then scroll down to ARB Current Burn Status OR call 1-800-225-2876 after 4:00 p.m. the day prior. 5. Daily Burn Authorization - on any day that burning is to be done; the MBUAPCD must be notified before ignition. Prior notification to the District must be made by completing the on-line Backyard Open Burn Daily Authorization Form.
[Monterey Peninsula/Carmel Valley Smoke Sensitive Area: No more than twentyfive (25) backyard burns will be authorized per burn day.] [San Lorenzo Valley Smoke Sensitive Area: No more than four (4) backyard burns will be authorized per Fire District each day, for a daily total of not more than twenty (20) backyard burns.] 6. Burn Hour Restrictions - Burn hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. No fuels may be added after 3:00 p.m. All fires must be extinguished by 4:00 p.m.; fire must not be emitting any smoke, is cold to the touch, and is no longer capable of regeneration. 7. Smoke Production - piled material must be arranged to provide adequate aeration to allow the material to burn with a minimum of smoke. Burn barrels are prohibited. 8. Drying Times - The material to be burned must dried: a. 60 days - branches, and prunings greater than 2 inches but equal to or less than 6 inches in diameter b. 30 days - trees, branches, and prunings equal to or less than 2 inches in diameter. 9. Fuel Condition - The material to be burned must be reasonably free of surface moisture and dirt. 10. Smoke Nuisance - Burn may not cause a nuisance with smoke and ash to neighbors. All fires must be extinguished upon notification of smoke impact. 11. Fire Safety - The area within 10 feet of the outer edge of the burn pile must be maintained free and clear of all flammable material and vegetation. A water source and appropriate firefighting tools must be at the burn site. A responsible person must be in attendance until fire is extinguished. Never leave your fire. 12. Distance from Structures - Burn may not be within 100 feet from any residential or commercial structure on an adjacent property.
9. At the bottom of the form, read the following statement: I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT: I have read the above conditions, and those specified in the instructions, and agree to comply with all the conditions stated on the burn permit. I understand that failure to comply with Monterey Bay Unified APCD Rules and Regulations will subject me to civil or criminal action, or both. I understand that the issuance of this permit does not relieve me of responsibility to use reasonable and ordinary care to prevent damage to the property of others or injury to persons. I accept responsibility for all burning activities, including smoke impacts, as a result of burning conducted at the above specified burnsite location which is under my legal control. 10. If you agree, then type your name, click I Accept, and click Submit. 11. You will then see your permit displayed on the screen. A copy of the permit will be sent to your email address. 12. It is recommended that you print a copy of your permit and keep it available for your reference. You may print the permit displayed on the screen or in the email that will be sent to you. 13. Air District staff will review your application and will contact you if necessary.
How to Find out if you are in a Smoke Sensitive Area If you live in Santa Cruz, San Benito, or Monterey county, you will be located in 1 of 3 areas: 1. Monterey/Carmel Valley Smoke Sensitive Area, or 2. San Lorenzo Valley Smoke Sensitive Area, or 3. Non-Smoke Sensitive Area. The Monterey/Carmel Valley Smoke Sensitive Area is located in the vicinity of Monterey and Carmel Valley. The San Lorenzo Valley Smoke Sensitive Area is located in the vicinity of Felton, Ben Lomand, and Boulder Creek. The Non-Smoke Sensitive Area is any part of Monterey, San Benito, and Santa Cruz counties that is not in the above two Smoke Sensitive Areas. A Map of the Smoke Sensitive Areas is available on this website.
How to Find your Burn Zone What is an Air Basin? A land area with generally similar meteorological and geographic conditions throughout. Monterey, San Benito, and Santa Cruz counties comprise the North Central Coast Air Basin. What is an Air District? A political body responsible for managing air quality on a regional or county basis. The Monterey Bay Unified Air Pollution Control District (MBUAPCD) manages the air quality in Monterey, San Benito, and Santa Cruz counties, which is known as the North Central Coast Air Basin. What is a Burn Zone? Due to climate differences in Monterey, San Benito, and Santa Cruz counties, the area has been divided into five burn zones. Every day, each burn zone will be declared a "burn day" or a "no-burn day" based on forecasts of air quality and weather conditions for the next day. The decisions are made by 4:00 pm the afternoon prior to the day. If conditions are expected to be good for smoke dispersal, it will be declared a burn day. Burners need to find out in which burn zone they are located. Each day you want to burn, you will check to see if it is a burn day in your particular zone. Links to Maps are available on this website: Map of Burn Zones & Detail Map of South Monterey County. Google Earth layers can be provided. For assistance in finding your Burn Zone, call the Air District at (831) 647-9411 8:00 a.m. through 5:00 p.m, Monday through Friday.
How to Find out if it is a Burn Day in your Burn Zone Daily burn day status is available by 4:00 p.m. for the next day. 1. First, you need to know in which of the five burn zones your burn project is located. View Burn Zone Map on this website How to find your Burn Zone 2. Choose one of the following ways to find out the burn status for your specific burn zone: A. Go to www.arb.ca.gov/smp/met/met.htm o Click on our area of the California Map Find your air sub-basin on the map. or o Left sidebar Daily Burn Decisions Find your air sub-basin on the Excel sheet or o Left sidebar Burn Forecast Click on the NC Coast button above or on the California Map below. B. Call 1-800-CAL-BURN (1-800-225-2876) Listen for the name and number of your burn zone. C. Call (916) 445-0747. This is not a toll-free number. Listen for "North Central Coast" and then the number or name of your burn zone. For additional assistance, call the Air District at (831) 647-9411 during business hours.
How to Request Daily Authorization to Burn You are required to receive Daily Authorization to Burn from the Air District prior to igniting your fire. You can do this on the morning of the burn, or 4:00 p.m. or later on the day before you want to burn. Request daily authorization to burn: By website http://69.12.229.62/burnpermits/default.aspx Read website directions here. or By telephone - Call (831) 647-9411. Read telephone directions here.
How to Obtain Daily Authorization to Conduct a Backyard Burn via Website 1. Check to see if it is a burn day in your burn zone. Learn how. 2. If it is a burn day in your burn zone, go to the Backyard Burn Daily Authorization Webpage, http://69.12.229.62/burnpermits/default.aspx 3. Log in with your Username and Password. 4. Under Backyard Open Burn Permits, you will see your permit. Click on the Daily Authorization link on the right. a. Check that the name of the Person Responsible for Conducting the Burn is correct. (Update it if needed.) b. Check that your Phone # is correct. (Update it if needed.) c. Check that your Email Address is correct. (Update it if needed.) d. Fill in the Type of Waste to be burned e. Fill in the Number of Burn Piles you want to burn. f. Fill in the Diameter and Height of the piles. g. Check the box to certify you have checked, and it is a burn day in your burn zone.
h. Read the Statement at the Bottom of the Page: I have read the above conditions, and those specified in the instructions, and agree to comply with all the conditions stated on the burn permit. I understand that failure to comply with Monterey Bay Unified APCD Rules and Regulations will subject me to civil or criminal action, or both. I understand that the issuance of this permit does not relieve me of responsibility to use reasonable and ordinary care to prevent damage to the property of others or injury to persons. I accept responsibility for all burning activities, including smoke impacts, as a result of burning conducted at the above specified burnsite location which is under my legal control. i. Enter your Name and click the box to Accept if you agree to the statement. j. Click Submit. k. You will see confirmation on the screen that you now have received authorization to conduct your backyard burn. A copy will be emailed to you. Questions? For additional assistance, call the Air District at (831) 647-9411 during regular business hours (Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. 12:00 p.m. noon and 1:00 p.m. 5:00 p.m.).
How to Obtain Daily Authorization to Conduct a Backyard Burn by Telephone 1. Check if it is a Burn Day via Telephone on the day you want to burn or after 4:00 pm the day prior. a. Call 1-800-CAL-BURN (1-800-225-2876). Listen for the burn status for your specific burn zone, which is listed on your permit or b. Call (916) 445-0747. This is not a toll-free number. Listen for "North Central Coast" and then the number or name of your burn zone. 2. Call the Air District at (831) 647-9411 Important Note: If you live in the San Lorenzo Valley Smoke Sensitive Area, you must speak to Air District Staff and get verbal authorization prior to burning. Residents of all other areas can leave a voicemail. a. Tell the receptionist you are calling to obtain Daily Authorization for a backyard burn or b. If you do not live in the San Lorenzo Valley Smoke Sensitive Area, you can press 9 to leave a voicemail on the complaint line 3. Provide this information to the staff person or in your voicemail: a. Type of Burn: Backyard Burn b. Name c. Phone number d. Permit Number e. Burn Location
f. Type of material you will burn g. Amount you will burn h. Time you plan to start & end burning i. If a different person will be onsite with the burn, provide their name & phone number. 4. You now have completed the steps to get authorization and can conduct your backyard burn. Questions? Call the Air District at (831) 647-9411 during regular business hours (Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. 12:00 p.m. noon and 1:00 p.m. 5:00 p.m.).