Overview
San Jose falls within BAAQMD's Spare the Air wood-burning program — which is the most restrictive major air district program in the country because it operates year-round, not just in winter. On any Spare the Air alert day, all residential wood burning is prohibited throughout the nine-county Bay Area. San Jose also has its own municipal wood-burning ordinance that adds additional restrictions beyond BAAQMD's program.
Building Permits
City of San José Development Services — 408-535-3555, sanjoseca.gov/permits. Online permitting available. San José is a high-volume building department — budget 3–6 weeks for plan review on residential accessory structures. Gas work requires a licensed California contractor.
BAAQMD Year-Round Alerts
Check sparetheair.org or call 1-800-HELP-AIR. BAAQMD alerts can be called any day of the year, not just winter. The Spare the Air mobile app is the most convenient way to check before any wood-burning use. Violations can result in warning letters and fines on subsequent violations.
San José Municipal Wood-Burning Ordinance
San José has its own ordinance restricting the installation and use of wood-burning devices beyond BAAQMD's program. Verify current ordinance language with the City of San José Environmental Services department — rules have been updated periodically and are more restrictive than the BAAQMD baseline in some respects.
Department Contacts
| Department | Contact | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| San José Development Services | sanjoseca.gov/permits / 408-535-3555 | Building permits |
| BAAQMD Spare the Air | sparetheair.org / 1-800-HELP-AIR | Year-round wood-burning alerts |
| San José Environmental Services | sanjoseca.gov/env | Municipal wood-burning ordinance |