Cal Fire is changing its policy on burning debris in residential areas of unincorporated Santa Cruz County.
Effective Dec. 1, all residents of unincorporated areas will need to fill out an online form and obtain a Cal Fire Residential Burn Permit in order to conduct backyard burning.
This new requirement standardizes burn regulations across the county. Cal Fire San Mateo-Santa Cruz, the local office of the state agency, is encouraging residents to understand the new rules so they can comply and be safe.
“This is a crucial step for fire safety across Santa Cruz County,” said CAL FIRE CZU Prevention Bureau Chief Colby Simms in a statement. “We are focused on educating our communities to make this transition as smooth as possible. The good news is that we’ve made the permitting process much simpler and more convenient.”
Residents can now apply for and receive a burn permit online.