|
|
Regulation 5: Open Burning - 2025 Amendment (Current)
Learn about the Air District's development process for amending Regulation 5: Open Burning.
Find out about the status and anticipated timeline of the rule development process. Information on hearings, workshops, and other events is provided below, along with supporting documents and materials.
Amendments to two woodsmoke rules (Regulation 5 and Rule 6-3) were adopted by the Air District Board of Directors at a public hearing on October 1, 2025.
- Regulation 5: Open Burning (Amendments Adopted 10/1/2025)
- Regulation 6: Particulate Matter, Rule 3: Wood-burning Devices (Amendments Adopted 10/1/2025)
- Final Staff Report - Proposed Amendments to Woodsmoke Rules: Regulation 6, Rule 3: Wood-Burning Devices and Regulation 5: Open Burning
- Appendix A: Proposed Amendments to Rule 6-3 - Redlined Version
- Appendix B: Proposed Amendments to Regulation 5 - Redlined Version
- Appendix C: Socioeconomic Impact Analysis of Proposed Amendments to Rule 6-3
- Appendix D: Socioeconomic Impact Analysis of Proposed Amendments to Regulation 5
- Appendix E: California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Notice of Exemption
- Appendix F: Response to Comments: Proposed Amendments to Regulation 6, Rule 3 and Regulation 5
Background
Regulation 5: Open Burning is designed to reduce harmful air pollution from open burning activities, which can release fine particulate matter and toxic air contaminants into the air we breathe. Air District staff consider woodsmoke as an important source to evaluate as it represents over 10 percent of the fine particulate matter (PM2.5) emissions in the region on an annual basis with an even greater impact during the winter. The rule also discusses types of fires and conditions where burning is allowable on permissive burn days (including for reduction of fire hazards, disposal of dangerous material, fire training, flood control and others, for example).
Proposed amendments in 2025 would expand fee exemptions for all prescribed burns for wildfire prevention to support regional and statewide efforts for wildfire mitigation. Recordings and materials from the public workshops are available in the 'Hearings, Workshops, and Other Events' table below.
The Air District Board of Directors adopted the amendments and determined that the amendments are exempt from the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act on October 1, 2025 at a public hearing. Information and a recording of the public hearing can be found in the 'Hearings, Workshops and Other Events' table below.
View other rule making activity |
|
|
|
Hearings, Workshops and Other Events
Throughout the rule development process, we provide information on upcoming and past workshops, hearings, and other events.
Documents
Supporting materials, such as staff reports, regulatory language, and other technical documents related to rule development, are posted throughout the development process.
Comments
The Air District provides opportunities for the public to submit comments throughout the development process, and posts comments received during the open public comment periods.
Updates Notification Subscription
Last Updated: 10/1/2025