Starting today, anyone planning to burn landscape debris across much of the North Bay will need a residential burn permit from CAL FIRE before striking a match on land where the agency has jurisdiction. The Sonoma‑Lake‑Napa Unit says the requirement now covers Sonoma, Napa, Lake, Solano, Yolo and Colusa counties as the region heads into its regular burn season.
How to get a permit
Residential burn permits are free and issued online, and the application process includes a short safety video that must be watched before a permit is granted. Once approved, permits must be kept on hand in either printed or digital form while burning. According to CAL FIRE, permits are valid for the duration of the burn season and must be renewed each year. The Sonoma‑Lake‑Napa Unit also reiterated the new requirement in a public information post on CAL FIRE PIO on X, reminding residents to get their paperwork in order before lighting any piles.
Starting today (Friday, May 1) residential burn permits are required for any landscape debris burning on lands within the State Responsibility Area (SRA) or where CAL FIRE has jurisdiction. Permits can be obtained online for free at https://t.co/SLq8aPdm2Q.
— CAL FIRE LNU (@CALFIRELNU) May 1, 2026
For Lake County… pic.twitter.com/AbFsbRQlZJ
Air-quality rules still control burn days
A CAL FIRE permit does not guarantee that a given day is legal to burn. Local air districts still decide which days are permissive and set additional rules. Bay Area residents are urged to check the district’s open‑burn guidance and Burn Status Hotline before lighting a pile, according to the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. In Lake County, officials note that the county’s annual no‑burn period also begins May 1, and any exemptions must be processed directly through the county air‑quality office.
Who to call before you light
The Sonoma‑Lake‑Napa Unit is asking residents to call both the unit and local dispatch before starting a burn and has circulated a list of key numbers. Those include the Yolo‑Solano agricultural burn line at 530‑757‑3660, Northern Sonoma’s burn line at 707‑565‑2876, Lake County Air Quality Management District at 707‑263‑7000, and Colusa APCD at 530‑458‑0581. Residents are also instructed to notify CAL FIRE LNU at the unit duty number prior to ignition; see the Sonoma‑Lake‑Napa Unit news release for the full list of contacts.
Penalties and safety tips
CAL FIRE and local air agencies warn that failing to follow permit conditions, or allowing a burn to escape control, can lead to citations, fines and suppression costs. Violations of permit terms are treated as a breach of state guidance, according to the agency’s online materials. To cut the risk, agencies advise keeping debris piles small (around 4×4×4 feet), scraping a 10‑foot clearance down to mineral soil around the pile, keeping water and hand tools close by, and staying with the burn until it is completely out. They also suggest considering alternatives such as chipping or municipal green‑waste pickup instead of open burning. More detailed instructions are available from CAL FIRE.
