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HomeHealth and Safety CodeDiv. 26Pt. 4Ch. 3Art. 2§ 41812 Agricultural Waste Burning Permits

§ 41812 Agricultural Waste Burning Permits

Health and Safety Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 41812 Agricultural Waste Burning Permits

Key Takeaways

  • •You can burn farm waste or wood waste in a special burner, but only if the smoke isn't too dark or thick.
  • •The smoke can't be darker than 'No. 1' on the Ringelmann Chart (a tool to measure smoke darkness).
  • •You need a permit from the air pollution officer to do this, and they can add rules to keep the smoke clean.
  • •You can't let the smoke block people's view more than the 'No. 1' smoke on the chart.

Example

A farmer wants to burn old tree branches and vines after trimming them.

The farmer needs a permit to burn the wood waste. The smoke from the fire must not be too dark or thick—it should be lighter than the darkest shade on the Ringelmann Chart. If the smoke is too dark or blocks the view too much, the farmer could get in trouble.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 41812 Agricultural Waste Burning Permits

(a) The air pollution control officer of any district, upon authorization of the district board, may authorize, by permit, open outdoor fires for the purpose of disposing of agricultural wastes, or wood waste from trees, vines, bushes, or other wood debris free of nonwood materials, in a mechanized burner so that no air contaminant is discharged into the atmosphere for a period or periods aggregating more than 30 minutes in any eight-hour period that is either of the following: (1) As dark or darker in shade as that designated as No. 1 on the Ringelmann Chart, as published by the former United States Bureau of Mines. (2) So opaque that it obscures observer’s view to a degree equal to or greater than does smoke described in paragraph (1). (b) In authorizing the operation of a mechanized burner, the air pollution control officer may make the permit subject to whatever conditions the officer determines are reasonably necessary to ensure conformance with the standards prescribed in this section. (Amended by Stats. 2018, Ch. 624, Sec. 6. (SB 1260) Effective January 1, 2019.)

Last verified: January 24, 2026

Key Terms

pollutionno. 1firewasteringelmann chartunited states bureauvisibilityauthorization

Related Statutes

  • § 41804 Waste Burning Authorization Rules
  • § 41701 Smoke Emission Visibility Limits
  • § 41802 Brush Waste Open Burning
  • § 41804.5 Outdoor Wood Waste Burning
  • § 41805 Wood Waste Disposal Regulation

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Health and Safety Code. Section 41812.
View Official Source