Outdoor burn permits available online

 
 
 
With the start of the annual outdoor burn season Dec. 1, residents of the Monterey Bay area who want to burn yard waste on their property will face for the first time a drastically revised permitting process.
To streamline the process, the Monterey Bay Unified Air Pollution Control District created an online tool to allow property owners to reserve a permit to burn on any particular day.
Those who meet the requirements must complete two steps to get the district’s go-ahead to burn, according to Deputy Air Pollution Control Officer Mike Gilroy:
n Create a profile and secure a permit online at www.mbuapcd.org.
n Before the burning date, contact the district — online or by phone — and confirm the authorization.
Gilroy also noted that the San Lorenzo Valley is designated as a Smoke Sensitive Area and requires stricter regulations than surrounding areas.
A limited number of permits is available each day throughout the San Lorenzo Valley.
Those burning without permits could find themselves subjected to tickets and fines, Gilroy said. Some regulations can be waived in extenuating circumstances, but no burning can legally take place without the district’s approval.
As an alternative to backyard burning, April 12 is the next designated free day to drop off yard waste at Ben Lomond Transfer Station, 9835 Newell Creek Road, in Ben Lomond.
For information: Monterey Bay Unified Air Pollution Control District, www.mbuapcd.org or 647-9411.