{"title":"Canal Flats backyard fire and burning rules","question":"Can I have a backyard fire or burn yard waste in Canal Flats?","slug":"backyard-fire","place":{"path":"ca/bc/canal-flats","name":"Canal Flats","region":{"code":"bc","name":"British Columbia"},"country":{"code":"ca","name":"Canada"}},"category":{"slug":"bylaws-and-complaints","name":"Bylaws, noise and complaints"},"owner":"municipal","owner_label":"Municipal","owner_body":{"name":"Village of Canal Flats","url":"https://www.canalflats.ca"},"short_answer":"In Canal Flats, small campfires and burn piles are allowed on private property if someone watches them until out, and they follow the distance and size limits in the Open Burning Bylaw. The Fire Chief can ban all burning in hazardous conditions.","aliases":["campfire canal flats","open burning canal flats","burn permit canal flats","fire ban canal flats"],"cost":"No burning permit or fee is set in the Open Burning Bylaw or the Village's fees bylaw. Fine: $100.","how_long":null,"where":[{"type":"in_person","label":"Village Office (Columbia Discovery Centre)","value":"8866 Grainger Road, Canal Flats, BC V0B 1B0","note":"Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (closed 12:00 to 1:00)"},{"type":"phone","label":"Village Office","value":"250-349-5462"},{"type":"phone","label":"Fire Chief, Canal Flats Fire Rescue","value":"250-349-5462"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Open Burning Bylaw No. 219, 2019 (PDF)","url":"https://canalflats.civicweb.net/document/11203/"},{"title":"Utilities","url":"https://www.canalflats.ca/village-services/utilities/"}],"related":[{"slug":"fireworks","title":"Canal Flats fireworks rules","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/canal-flats/fireworks/"},{"slug":"bylaw-fines","title":"Canal Flats bylaw fines and how tickets work","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/canal-flats/bylaw-fines/"},{"slug":"garbage-collection","title":"Canal Flats garbage collection: schedule, carts and limits","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/canal-flats/garbage-collection/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/invermere","name":"Invermere","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/invermere/backyard-fire/"},{"place":"ca/bc/radium-hot-springs","name":"Radium Hot Springs","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/radium-hot-springs/backyard-fire/"},{"place":"ca/bc/kimberley","name":"Kimberley","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kimberley/backyard-fire/"},{"place":"ca/bc/elkford","name":"Elkford","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/elkford/backyard-fire/"},{"place":"ca/bc/cranbrook","name":"Cranbrook","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cranbrook/backyard-fire/"},{"place":"ca/bc/kaslo","name":"Kaslo","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kaslo/backyard-fire/"}],"topic":{"title":"Backyard fire and burning rules in British Columbia, by municipality","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/backyard-fire/"},"facts":{"campfires":{"label":"Backyard campfires","value":"Small-scale open burning on private property is allowed if: someone watches it until fully out, with water and equipment on hand; it is at least 5 m from any building and 3 m from a property line, timber or other combustibles (unless in a domestic incinerator); the pile is no more than 0.5 m across and 0.5 m high (grass burning up to 25 m², or larger if the Fire Chief approves in writing); it is safe from wind and bans; and smoke does not trouble neighbours.","short":"Yes, up to 0.5 m x 0.5 m, 5 m from buildings","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://canalflats.civicweb.net/document/11203/","title":"Open Burning Bylaw No. 219, 2019 (PDF), Village of Canal Flats","section":"s. 3(9)","quotes":["Small scale open burning on private property may occur provided that","shall not be carried out within 5 meters from any building, and","3 meters from any property line","no pile of burning material shall exceed 0.5 meters in diameter and 0.5","smoke from the open burning does not interfere with any neighbour's right","meters in height, with the exception of grass burning in which the maximum area","burning shall be 25 square meters, unless approved by the Fire Chief, in writing."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"open_burning":{"label":"Burning yard waste","value":"Large-scale burning (over 0.5 m across or high) of cut and piled brush, slash, grass and other land-clearing organic material, or clean construction or demolition wood, is allowed only Monday to Friday, at least 50 m from any building, structure or standing timber, with a fire watch kept; piles over 2 m across or high need the Fire Chief's written approval. Burning noxious materials or domestic waste is prohibited. No burning when unsafe or under a ban.","short":"Only Monday to Friday, 50 m from buildings","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://canalflats.civicweb.net/document/11203/","title":"Open Burning Bylaw No. 219, 2019 (PDF), Village of Canal Flats","section":"s. 3(5)-(7)","quotes":["such burning shall only be carried out from Monday to Friday inclusive in","shall not be carried out within 50 meters from any building,","no pile of burning material shall exceed 2 meters in diameter and 2 meters in","No burning of noxious materials is permitted.","No person shall burn domestic waste materials."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"permit":{"label":"Permit","value":null,"status":"unknown","reason":"not_found","sources":[]},"fire_bans":{"label":"Fire bans","value":"The Fire Chief or designate may by written order ban, suspend or limit any burning and fireworks when hazardous fire conditions exist; the order takes effect when issued, lasts until rescinded in writing, and is posted by Village staff. BC Wildfire Service bans for the Southeast Fire Centre also apply; the Village points to the Province's fire bans and restrictions page.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://canalflats.civicweb.net/document/11203/","title":"Open Burning Bylaw No. 219, 2019 (PDF), Village of Canal Flats","section":"s. 3(14)","quotes":["may, by written order, ban, suspend, or limit any authority","These orders shall be posted by Village staff."]},{"url":"https://www.canalflats.ca/campfire-regulations-and-fireworks-ban/","title":"Campfire regulations and fireworks ban, Village of Canal Flats","section":"2020 news post","quotes":["A person in contravention of this ban may be ordered to pay all firefighting and associated costs, as well as the value of the resources damaged or destroyed by the fire. For more information, please see https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/wildfire-status/fire-bans-and-restrictions ###### About admin"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"alternatives":{"label":"Instead of burning","value":"Household garbage and yard waste can be taken to the Regional District of East Kootenay transfer station, 10 km south of Canal Flats, at no charge.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.canalflats.ca/village-services/utilities/","title":"Utilities, Village of Canal Flats","section":"Utilities page, Waste","quotes":["no charge for household garbage/yard waste","Regional District of East Kootenay transfer station (10km south of Canal Flats)"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"fine":{"label":"Fine","value":"Bylaw notice: $100 ($75 within 14 days; $125 after 28 days). Municipal ticket: $100. (Examples: burning at an unauthorized site, unsupervised or hazardous small-scale fire, burning prohibited materials.) The bylaw sets a minimum $100 fine.","short":"Notice $100 ($75 if paid in 14 days); ticket $100","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://canalflats.civicweb.net/document/47771/","title":"Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 231, 2020 (PDF), Village of Canal Flats","section":"Schedule K","quotes":["Unsupervised or hazardous small scale fire 3(9)(a) – 3(9)(e) $100.00","Burn in unauthorized burning site 3(3) $100.00"]},{"url":"https://canalflats.civicweb.net/document/20426/","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement and Dispute Adjudication System Bylaw No. 242, 2021 (PDF), Village of Canal Flats","section":"Bylaw 242, Schedule A (Open Burning Bylaw No. 219)","quotes":["small scale fire","$100 $75 $125 No"]},{"url":"https://canalflats.civicweb.net/document/11203/","title":"Open Burning Bylaw No. 219, 2019 (PDF), Village of Canal Flats","section":"s. 8(3)","quotes":["The minimum fine, under the Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw, for a single infraction"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Village of Canal Flats Open Burning Bylaw No. 219, 2019","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://canalflats.civicweb.net/document/11203/","title":"Open Burning Bylaw No. 219, 2019 (PDF), Village of Canal Flats","section":"s. 2","quotes":["Village of Canal Flats Open Burning Bylaw No. 219, 2019"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":7,"stated":6,"matched":6,"none":0,"unknown":1},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nThe [Open Burning Bylaw No. 219, 2019](https://canalflats.civicweb.net/document/11203/) allows small-scale open burning on private property if all of these hold:\n\n- Someone watches it until fully out, with water and equipment on hand.\n- It is at least 5 m from any building and 3 m from a property line, timber or other combustibles (unless in a domestic incinerator).\n- The pile is no more than 0.5 m across and 0.5 m high. Grass burning is allowed up to 25 m², or larger if the Fire Chief approves in writing.\n- It is safe from wind and bans, and smoke does not trouble neighbours.\n\nBarbecue cooking fires (charcoal, natural gas, propane) are allowed.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Check for a ban first (see below).\n2. Keep the fire and pile within the limits above.\n3. For larger land-clearing piles, follow the large-scale rules below.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- Large-scale burning (over 0.5 m across or high) of cut and piled brush, slash, grass and similar material, or clean construction or demolition wood, is allowed only Monday to Friday, at least 50 m from any building, structure or standing timber, with a fire watch. Piles over 2 m across or high need the Fire Chief's written approval.\n- Burning noxious materials or domestic waste is prohibited.\n- The Fire Chief or designate may ban, suspend or limit burning by written order when hazardous fire conditions exist. BC Wildfire Service bans for the Southeast Fire Centre also apply; check the Province's fire bans and restrictions page.\n- Instead of burning, take household garbage and yard waste to the Regional District of East Kootenay transfer station, 10 km south of Canal Flats, at no charge.\n- Fine: bylaw notice $100 ($75 within 14 days, $125 after 28 days) or municipal ticket $100. The bylaw sets a minimum $100 fine.","sources":[{"url":"https://canalflats.civicweb.net/document/11203/","title":"Open Burning Bylaw No. 219, 2019 (PDF), Village of Canal Flats","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://www.canalflats.ca/campfire-regulations-and-fireworks-ban/","title":"Campfire regulations and fireworks ban, Village of Canal Flats","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://www.canalflats.ca/village-services/utilities/","title":"Utilities, Village of Canal Flats","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://canalflats.civicweb.net/document/20426/","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement and Dispute Adjudication System Bylaw No. 242, 2021 (PDF), Village of Canal Flats","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://canalflats.civicweb.net/document/47771/","title":"Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 231, 2020 (PDF), Village of Canal Flats","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://canalflats.civicweb.net/document/50057/","title":"Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 300, 2026 (PDF), Village of Canal Flats","accessed":"2026-11-08"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-08","review":{"status":"machine_checked","badge":"Checked against official text","label":"Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 6 of 7 facts was matched to the official text; 1 could not be confirmed."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/canal-flats/backyard-fire/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/canal-flats/backyard-fire.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/canal-flats/backyard-fire.json"}}