Outdoor fires shall not be built and will not be permitted in hazardous fire areas. This includes wood- burning fires at Kit Carson Park (exception is the deep fire pit with a burn permit), the Dixon Lake Campground, and other property adjacent to, or in wildland areas.

Backyard recreational and cooking fires will be allowed without a permit as long as they meet the following requirements:

• Wood-burning fires contained in a commercially manufactured portable fireplace, that is equipped with a screen or door, lid or spark arrestor, and is above the ground. Chiminea types do not meet these requirements.
• Cooking fires using natural gas, propane, or charcoal, contained in commercially- manufactured barbecue or cooking appliance.
• Permanently installed fire pit, fireplace, barbecue, or cooking appliance for which building permits were issued at the time of construction. Building permits are only issued for the fire pits using natural gas or propane. Permanently installed and permitted fire pits are not designed for wood burning.
• Permanent barbecues and portable fireplaces shall not be used for the disposal of stumps, rubbish, trash, or combustible waste material.

Outdoor Fire Permits

Miscellaneous Burn Permits:

• Pit barbecues are allowed, upon completion and approval of a Miscellaneous Burn Permit on a case-by-case basis following an on-site inspection.
• Miscellaneous Burn Permits are not issued on July 4th weekend, Thanksgiving, Christmas or New Year’s Eve/Day.
• $100.00 fee due at time of application.

Agricultural Burn Permits:

The Air Pollution Control District allows agricultural burning permits to be issued during certain times of the year, within specific limits:

• Permits are issued only when the weather allows – never during “Fire Season.”
• Only "Agricultural Material" which is a direct result of agricultural operations (citrus, avocado, macadamia, flowers) or other vegetation cleared from groves may be burned.
• Only natural vegetation and trimmings are allowed to be burned. No man-made materials such as processed lumber are allowed to be burned. Burning of trash is prohibited.
• No green material is allowed to be burned. Vegetation and trimmings 1” or less in diameter must be dried a minimum of 30 days prior to burning. Vegetation and trimmings 1” to 4” in diameter must be dried a minimum of 90 days.
• No branches or tree stumps 4” or larger in diameter shall be burned.
• Brush that has been cleared for development does not meet burn requirements and is prohibited from being burned.
• Maximum burn pile size is 10’ x 10’ x 10’.
• Minimum of 30’ clearance around pile. Pile to be on bare dirt and located a minimum of 50’ away from any structure.
• An adult 18 years of age or older must be in attendance at all times while the pile is burning.
• Only one burn pile permitted; others must be fed into main pile.
• Pressurized water supply must reach around the entire burn pile.
• Permission to burn must be obtained the day of burn by calling a phone number listed on the permit.
• Burn Permits are issued for a two-week period and may be extended over the phone for one week at a time, for a total of two weeks.

To obtain a burn permit to burn agricultural materials as specified above:

• Obtain and complete application. $100.00 fee due at time of application.
• Schedule an on-site inspection by Escondido Fire Department personnel.

Burn Permit Applications must be completed at:

Fire Administration
Police & Fire Headquarters
1163 N. Centre City Parkway
Escondido, CA 92026

For more information, contact the Escondido Fire Department at 760-839-5400.