El Monte Burn Bans Rules (2026): What You Need to Know

El Monte is located in the San Gabriel Valley within the South Coast Air Basin, an area regulated by the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD). SCAQMD Rule 445, adopted in 2008 and amended in 2013, restricts wood-burning devices to reduce fine particulate matter (PM2.5) emissions. On days when SCAQMD declares a mandatory Curtailment Day (no-burn day), it is a violation to burn wood, manufactured fire logs, or any solid fuel in any fireplace, wood stove, fire pit, chiminea, or outdoor fireplace anywhere in El Monte. No-burn days are announced the day before and can be checked at aqmd.gov or by calling the SCAQMD burn day hotline.

The San Gabriel Valley frequently experiences temperature inversions and stagnant air patterns that trap pollutants close to the ground, making El Monte particularly susceptible to poor air quality during the winter months. SCAQMD's no-burn day program targets these conditions to prevent dangerous spikes in PM2.5 levels. El Monte's position along the I-10 and I-605 corridors already contributes significant transportation-related pollution, making residential wood smoke an additional public health concern that the district actively monitors.

In addition to seasonal no-burn days, SCAQMD Rule 444 permanently prohibits open burning — the burning of leaves, branches, brush, construction debris, and other materials in the open air — throughout the urbanized South Coast Air Basin. This means El Monte residents may never burn yard waste at any time of year, regardless of air quality conditions. The El Monte Fire Department, which operates out of Station 165 and Station 166 under contract with the Los Angeles County Fire Department, enforces local fire code provisions that complement the SCAQMD rules. Violations can be reported to both SCAQMD and the LA County Fire Department.