---
title: Armstrong backyard fire and burning rules
question: "Can I have a backyard fire or burn yard waste in Armstrong?"
place: Armstrong, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/armstrong
category: Bylaws, noise and complaints
owner: shared
sources_read: 2026-11-05
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/armstrong/backyard-fire/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/armstrong/backyard-fire.json"
---

# Armstrong backyard fire and burning rules

**Question:** Can I have a backyard fire or burn yard waste in Armstrong?

**Short answer:** In the City of Armstrong, the Fire Prevention Bylaw allows small confined fires for cooking, recreation or ceremony in an approved fire pit, and nothing larger without a Fire Chief's permit. Burning garden waste is not allowed. Check the current campfire status before you light.

**Who handles it:** More than one level of government  
**Cost:** Not stated. Permit fees are "as determined from time to time by bylaw", and no burning permit fee was found in the Rates, Fees and Charges Bylaw.  
**How long:** Under a permit, burning is Monday to Friday only, from 1 hour after sunrise until 4 p.m. or 2 hours before sunset (whichever is later), for no more than 2 days.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Armstrong Spallumcheen Fire Department (non-emergency), 250-546-6708
- Online: City public notices (current campfire status), https://www.cityofarmstrong.bc.ca/

## Key facts

- **Backyard campfires:** Yes. Small confined fires for cooking, recreation or ceremony are allowed: in an approved fire pit, fireplace or barbecue with a non-combustible container and spark arrestor, no larger than 0.5 m high and 0.5 m wide. Site more than 5 m from the property line; a competent person (18 or older) must stay in charge; no fires on City land or streets.
  - Source: [Fire Prevention Bylaw No. 1858, 2020, consolidated to Bylaw 1930, 2024, s. 5.2(a)](https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/132074)
  - Official wording: "small confined fires used for cooking in grills and barbeques, recreational or ceremonial purposes;" … "that the fire be no larger than 0.5 m in height and 0.5 m in width" … "A competent person must be responsible for the care and control of such fire until"
  - Source: [Fire Prevention Bylaw No. 1858, 2020, consolidated to Bylaw 1930, 2024, s. 5.3](https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/132074)
  - Official wording: "brush or structures is more than five meters from the property line;" … "A competent person must be responsible for the care and control of such fire until" … "any other property owned by the City of Armstrong."
  - Source: [Fire Prevention Bylaw No. 1858, 2020, consolidated to Bylaw 1930, 2024, s. 1.2(f)](https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/132074)
  - Official wording: "Competent Person” means a person of eighteen years or older"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Burning yard waste:** Burning compostable materials and garden waste is not allowed (prohibited materials). Other open-air burning only under a Fire Chief's permit: farmers, orchardists and golf courses Nov 1 to April 30, or twice a year up to two weeks in total. Under a permit, burning is Monday to Friday only, from 1 hour after sunrise until 4 p.m. or 2 hours before sunset (whichever is later), no more than 2 days.
  - Source: [Fire Prevention Bylaw No. 1858, 2020, consolidated to Bylaw 1930, 2024, s. 5.1 and 5.3(a)](https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/132074)
  - Official wording: "no person shall light, ignite or start, or allow, or cause to be lighted, ignited or started a fire of any kind whatsoever in the open air" … "burn any prohibited materials;" … "Under a open air burning permit, burning shall only be permitted Monday to Friday" … "starting 1 hour after sunrise ending by 4 pm or 2 hours before sunset, whichever is" … "later. The burning time may not exceed 2 days."
  - Source: [Fire Prevention Bylaw No. 1858, 2020, consolidated to Bylaw 1930, 2024, s. 1.2(ll)](https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/132074)
  - Official wording: "compostable materials, garden waste, food waste, animal carcasses and manure,"
  - Source: [Fire Prevention Bylaw No. 1858, 2020, consolidated to Bylaw 1930, 2024, s. 5.4](https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/132074)
  - Official wording: "between Nov 1st and April 30th, to farmers," … "starting 1 hour after sunrise ending by 4 pm or 2 hours before sunset, whichever is"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Permit:** An open air burning permit is issued by the Fire Chief or designate (twice a year, up to two weeks annually; farmers, orchardists and golf courses Nov 1 to April 30). Armstrong Spallumcheen Fire Department: 250-546-6708.
  - Source: [Fire Prevention Bylaw No. 1858, 2020, consolidated to Bylaw 1930, 2024, s. 5.4](https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/132074)
  - Official wording: "A open air burning permit may be issued twice per year, to a maximum of two" … "weeks annually, subject to the issuance of the appropriate permit approved by the" … "Fire Chief or Designate"
  - Source: [Campfire Restrictions are Changing, City of Armstrong (September 3, 2026), City notice, Sept 3, 2026](https://www.cityofarmstrong.bc.ca/2026/09/03/campfire-ban-coming-into-effect-for-armstrong-2/)
  - Official wording: "Armstrong Spallumcheen Fire Department: 250.546.6708"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fire bans:** The City posts campfire restrictions as public notices on its website and follows BC Wildfire Service decisions for the Kamloops Fire Centre. Check the City's public notices or call the Armstrong Spallumcheen Fire Department at 250-546-6708.
  - Source: [Campfire Restrictions are Changing, City of Armstrong (September 3, 2026), City notice, Sept 3, 2026](https://www.cityofarmstrong.bc.ca/2026/09/03/campfire-ban-coming-into-effect-for-armstrong-2/)
  - Official wording: "consistent with the BC Wildfire Service’s decision to lift the campfire prohibition throughout the Kamloops Fire Centre" … "Armstrong Spallumcheen Fire Department: 250.546.6708"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Instead of burning:** Curbside green waste collection every second week (one container or two compostable bags), plus free yard and garden waste drop-off at the Armstrong/Spallumcheen Transfer Station (limit of one full-size pickup bed per day).
  - Source: [Solid Waste Collection and Management, Solid Waste Collection page](https://www.cityofarmstrong.bc.ca/solid-waste-collection-management/)
  - Official wording: "Bi-weekly manual green waste collection in resident-provided containers or compostable bags." … "Green waste is accepted free of charge year-round at the RDNO landfill."
  - Source: [Armstrong/Spallumcheen Transfer Station, Regional District of North Okanagan, RDNO Armstrong/Spallumcheen Transfer Station page](https://www.rdno.ca/rdno-services/solid-waste-management/diversion-disposal-facilities/armstrongspallumcheen-ddf)
  - Official wording: "restricted to the volume of a full-size pickup bed or less per day"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** Burning contrary to the general regulations (s. 5.3): $250, or $200 if paid within 30 days of receiving the ticket. Lighting a fire when prohibited (s. 5.1): $250 ($200).
  - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information System Bylaw No. 1889, 2022, Schedule 5](https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/165574)
  - Official wording: "Burning contrary to general regulations 5.3 (a, b, c, $250.00 $200.00" … "Light, ignite, start, or allow or cause a fire when 5.1 $250.00 $200.00"
  - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information System Bylaw No. 1889, 2022, Schedule 5, s. 5(b)](https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/165574)
  - Official wording: "Column 4 represents the fine payable if payment is received within 30 days"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** City of Armstrong Fire Prevention Bylaw No. 1858, 2020 (consolidated to include Bylaw No. 1930, 2024).
  - Source: [Fire Prevention Bylaw No. 1858, 2020, consolidated to Bylaw 1930, 2024, s. 1 (Title)](https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/132074)
  - Official wording: "the City of Armstrong Fire" … "Prevention Bylaw No. 1858, 2020."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The City of Armstrong's [Fire Prevention Bylaw](https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/132074) allows small confined fires for cooking, recreation or ceremony. Use an approved fire pit, fireplace or barbecue with a non-combustible container and spark arrestor, no larger than 0.5 m high and 0.5 m wide. Keep the site more than 5 m from the property line, and have a competent person aged 18 or older in charge. No fires on City land or streets. The bylaw sets no maximum fire size beyond the container.

Burning compostable materials and garden waste is not allowed. Other open-air burning needs a permit from the Fire Chief or designate.

## Steps

1. For a campfire, check the City's public notices for the current restriction. The City follows BC Wildfire Service decisions for the Kamloops Fire Centre.
2. For anything larger, ask the Armstrong Spallumcheen Fire Department at 250-546-6708 about a permit.

## Good to know

- The Fire Chief issues permits twice a year, up to two weeks in total annually. Farmers, orchardists and golf courses may burn from November 1 to April 30. Whether a home owner can get one for yard waste is not stated.
- For yard waste, use curbside green waste collection every second week, or the free drop-off at the Armstrong/Spallumcheen Transfer Station (a full-size pickup bed or less per day). See the yard waste answer.
- Ticket for burning contrary to the general regulations, or lighting a fire when prohibited: $250 ($200 if paid within 30 days).

## Official forms and pages

- [Fire Prevention Bylaw 1858, 2020, consolidated (PDF)](https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/132074)

## Related questions

- [Armstrong fireworks rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/armstrong/fireworks.md)
- [Armstrong yard waste collection and drop-off](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/armstrong/yard-waste.md)
- [Armstrong bylaw fines and how tickets work](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/armstrong/bylaw-fines.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Backyard fire and burning rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/backyard-fire.md)
- [Spallumcheen](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/spallumcheen/backyard-fire.md)
- [Enderby](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/enderby/backyard-fire.md)
- [Vernon](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vernon/backyard-fire.md)
- [Coldstream](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/coldstream/backyard-fire.md)
- [Lumby](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lumby/backyard-fire.md)
- [Lake Country](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-country/backyard-fire.md)

## Sources

- [Fire Prevention Bylaw No. 1858, 2020, consolidated to Bylaw 1930, 2024 (PDF), City of Armstrong](https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/132074) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Municipal Ticket Information System Bylaw No. 1889, 2022, Schedule 5 (PDF), City of Armstrong](https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/165574) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Solid Waste Collection and Management, City of Armstrong](https://www.cityofarmstrong.bc.ca/solid-waste-collection-management/) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Armstrong/Spallumcheen Transfer Station, Regional District of North Okanagan](https://www.rdno.ca/rdno-services/solid-waste-management/diversion-disposal-facilities/armstrongspallumcheen-ddf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Campfire Restrictions are Changing, City of Armstrong (September 3, 2026)](https://www.cityofarmstrong.bc.ca/2026/09/03/campfire-ban-coming-into-effect-for-armstrong-2/) (read 2026-11-05)

_Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 7 of 7 facts was matched to the official text. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with any government. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/armstrong/backyard-fire/_