What Is a Wood-Burning Curtailment Day?
A wood-burning curtailment day (also called a "Spare the Air" day, "no-burn day," or "Check Before You Burn" day) is a day when your regional air quality management district declares that wood smoke from residential burning will cause particulate matter (PM2.5) levels to exceed health-based standards. On these days, burning wood in fireplaces, fire pits, outdoor fireplaces, and wood-fired ovens is prohibited by regulation — regardless of whether you have a permit for the feature.
Curtailment programs are distinct from general open-burning permits or building permits. They operate at the air district level, not the city or county level, and they apply seasonally — most programs run from roughly November through the end of February, with some extending through April.
Violations can result in fines ranging from $50 to $1,000 depending on the district and whether it's a first or repeat offense. Some districts primarily warn on first violations; others issue fines immediately.
Why This Matters for Outdoor Fire Features
If you've invested in an outdoor fireplace, wood-fired pizza oven, or permanent fire pit, curtailment days are a real operational constraint — especially in California, Arizona, and the Pacific Northwest, where programs can trigger 20–50+ restricted days per season.
The practical implication: a wood-burning feature in Los Angeles, the San Francisco Bay Area, Sacramento, Phoenix, Denver, or Seattle may be unusable on many of the cold winter evenings when you'd most want to use it. This is one of the most important factors to weigh before choosing between a wood-burning and gas-fueled fire feature.
Gas fire features — propane tables, natural gas fire bowls, gas outdoor fireplaces — are not subject to wood-burning curtailment rules in any U.S. air district. If you live in a high-curtailment area and want an always-usable fire feature, gas is the practical choice.
Major Air Districts with Curtailment Programs
Southern California: SCAQMD — "Check Before You Burn"
The South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) covers the greater Los Angeles area, Orange County, the Inland Empire, and parts of San Diego and Riverside counties. SCAQMD's "Check Before You Burn" program runs November 1 through the end of February.
On curtailment days declared by SCAQMD, burning wood in any residential fireplace, fire pit, or outdoor wood-burning appliance is prohibited in the South Coast Air Basin. This includes wood-burning pizza ovens. The SCAQMD also has a separate "no-burn season" provision for newer-construction homes and certain areas.
Additionally, SCAQMD Rule 445 prohibits the installation of new wood-burning fireplaces in new construction in the South Coast Air Basin. Existing wood-burning fireplaces are grandfathered but subject to curtailment days.
- Check curtailment status: aqmd.gov/checkbeforeyouburn or call 1-800-CUT-SMOG
- Sign up for alerts: Email and text alerts available at SCAQMD website
- Fine range: $50–$500 for first violations; escalating for repeat
San Francisco Bay Area: BAAQMD — "Spare the Air"
The Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) operates the "Spare the Air" program for wood smoke. Unlike SCAQMD's seasonal restriction, BAAQMD's wood-burning rules apply year-round — an alert can be called any day weather conditions are unfavorable, including in summer.
On Spare the Air wood-burning alert days, burning wood in fireplaces and fire pits is prohibited throughout the nine-county Bay Area. The program runs year-round with a formal "Spare the Air Season" from November through the end of February, when alerts are more frequent.
- Check alert status: sparetheair.org or 1-800-HELP-AIR
- Mobile app: "Spare the Air" app available for iOS and Android
- Fine range: Warning on first violation; fines on subsequent violations
Sacramento Valley: SMAQMD — "Spare the Air"
The Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District covers Sacramento and surrounding valley areas. The program operates November 1 through February 28 and bans wood burning in residential fireplaces and wood stoves on alert days.
- Check alert status: airquality.org/residents/wood-burning-fireplace-wood-stove
- Alert line: 916-874-4800
San Diego: SDAPCD — "Check Before You Burn"
The San Diego Air Pollution Control District operates a seasonal curtailment program typically running November through February. San Diego generally has fewer curtailment days than the Los Angeles or Bay Area basins due to coastal air patterns, but they do occur.
- Check alert status: sdapcd.org or 858-586-2650
Phoenix / Maricopa County: MCAQD
Maricopa County Air Quality Department runs an episodic curtailment program tied to PM2.5 forecasts. The season runs October through April. On curtailment days, no wood burning is permitted in residential fireplaces, fire pits, or outdoor fire features in Maricopa County. Gas fire features are not restricted.
- Check curtailment status: maricopa.gov/1854/Wood-Burning-Curtailment
- Curtailment hotline: Listed on the MCAQD website (updated seasonally)
- Exemption: Only source of heat in the home
Denver / Front Range: CDPHE / RAQC
Colorado's wood-burning curtailment program for the Denver metro and Front Range is managed by the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment (CDPHE) and the Regional Air Quality Council (RAQC). The program, called "Burn Wise," declares mandatory no-burn days when ozone or PM2.5 levels are forecast to exceed standards.
Colorado also has an "Action Level" system — on Action 1 days, burning is prohibited in certified wood stoves and fireplaces. On Action 2 days, all wood burning is prohibited. Natural gas and propane are permitted on all days.
- Check alert status: colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/wood-burning or raqc.org
- Fine range: $100–$1,000
Seattle / Puget Sound: PSCAA
The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency covers King, Pierce, Snohomish, and Kitsap counties. During winter months with stagnant air (temperature inversions), PSCAA declares "Wood-Burning Curtailment" days. These typically run October through March.
On curtailment days, burning wood in fireplaces, fire pits, and wood stoves is prohibited unless the wood-burning appliance is the home's sole source of heat. Gas fire features are permitted.
- Check curtailment status: pscleanair.gov or 206-689-4010
- Alert signup: Available on the PSCAA website
Portland / Eugene: LRAPA / DEQ
Oregon's Lane Regional Air Protection Agency and the Oregon DEQ operate wood smoke programs in the Willamette Valley and Eugene-Springfield area. Portland area uses Multnomah County's no-burn day alerts.
- Portland area: oregon.gov/deq — search "wood smoke"
- Eugene area: lrapa.com
Areas Without Curtailment Programs
Most of the eastern U.S., Texas, the Gulf Coast, and the rural Mountain West do not have episodic wood-burning curtailment programs. In these areas, fire pit and outdoor fireplace use is generally not restricted by air quality rules (though local ordinances and open-burning regulations still apply). Key points:
- Texas (Austin, Houston, Dallas, San Antonio): No episodic wood-burning curtailment programs for residential fires. Local ordinances govern fire pit use.
- Southeast (Atlanta, Charlotte, Nashville, Raleigh): No curtailment programs; open-burning ordinances apply.
- Midwest (Chicago, Columbus, Kansas City): No wood-burning curtailment programs for residential fire pits.
- Florida: No curtailment programs. Open burning rules and fire season restrictions apply in dry periods.
What Is Usually Exempt from Curtailment Rules
Most curtailment programs have limited exemptions. Common exemptions include:
- Sole source of heat: If a wood-burning appliance is the home's only heating source, most programs grant an exemption. This rarely applies to outdoor fire features.
- Certified wood stoves: Some programs allow EPA-certified low-emission wood stoves or pellet stoves on curtailment days when uncertified devices are banned. Check your specific district.
- Gas and propane: Natural gas and propane fire features are universally exempt from wood-burning curtailment rules. All programs restrict only solid-fuel (wood, pellet, manufactured log) burning.
- Ceremonial or religious fires: Some districts have special exemption request processes for specific cultural or religious outdoor fires. These require advance application.
How to Sign Up for Curtailment Alerts
The best practice is to sign up for your air district's alert service before the curtailment season begins — not to check the night before. Most districts offer:
- Email alerts (most reliable — delivered the afternoon before a curtailment day)
- Text/SMS alerts
- Mobile apps (especially BAAQMD's Spare the Air app)
- Automated phone hotlines (updated each afternoon)
Note that curtailment days are typically declared the afternoon or evening before they take effect, for the following day. If you plan to use a wood-burning feature in the evening, check the alert status that afternoon.
| Region | Program Name | Check Status | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles / SoCal | Check Before You Burn (SCAQMD) | aqmd.gov/checkbeforeyouburn | Nov–Feb |
| San Francisco Bay Area | Spare the Air (BAAQMD) | sparetheair.org | Year-round |
| Sacramento Valley | Spare the Air (SMAQMD) | airquality.org | Nov–Feb |
| San Diego | Check Before You Burn (SDAPCD) | sdapcd.org | Nov–Feb |
| Phoenix / Maricopa County | MCAQD Curtailment | maricopa.gov/1854 | Oct–Apr |
| Denver / Front Range | Burn Wise (CDPHE/RAQC) | raqc.org | Oct–Mar |
| Seattle / Puget Sound | PSCAA Curtailment | pscleanair.gov | Oct–Mar |
| Portland / Oregon | Oregon DEQ | oregon.gov/deq | Nov–Mar |