---
title: Canal Flats backyard fire and burning rules
question: "Can I have a backyard fire or burn yard waste in Canal Flats?"
place: Canal Flats, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/canal-flats
category: Bylaws, noise and complaints
owner: municipal
owner_body: Village of Canal Flats
sources_read: 2026-11-08
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/canal-flats/backyard-fire/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/canal-flats/backyard-fire.json"
---

# Canal Flats backyard fire and burning rules

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

**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.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Village of Canal Flats, https://www.canalflats.ca)  
**Cost:** No burning permit or fee is set in the Open Burning Bylaw or the Village's fees bylaw. Fine: $100.  
**Where:**
- In person: Village Office (Columbia Discovery Centre), 8866 Grainger Road, Canal Flats, BC V0B 1B0 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (closed 12:00 to 1:00))
- Phone: Village Office, 250-349-5462
- Phone: Fire Chief, Canal Flats Fire Rescue, 250-349-5462

## Key facts

- **Backyard campfires:** 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.
  - Source: [Open Burning Bylaw No. 219, 2019, s. 3(9)](https://canalflats.civicweb.net/document/11203/)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Burning yard waste:** 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.
  - Source: [Open Burning Bylaw No. 219, 2019, s. 3(5)-(7)](https://canalflats.civicweb.net/document/11203/)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Permit:** Not confirmed. Not found in the official sources that were read.
- **Fire bans:** 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.
  - Source: [Open Burning Bylaw No. 219, 2019, s. 3(14)](https://canalflats.civicweb.net/document/11203/)
  - Official wording: "may, by written order, ban, suspend, or limit any authority" … "These orders shall be posted by Village staff."
  - Source: [Campfire regulations and fireworks ban, 2020 news post](https://www.canalflats.ca/campfire-regulations-and-fireworks-ban/)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Instead of burning:** 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.
  - Source: [Utilities, Utilities page, Waste](https://www.canalflats.ca/village-services/utilities/)
  - Official wording: "no charge for household garbage/yard waste" … "Regional District of East Kootenay transfer station (10km south of Canal Flats)"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Fine:** 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.
  - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 231, 2020, Schedule K](https://canalflats.civicweb.net/document/47771/)
  - Official wording: "Unsupervised or hazardous small scale fire 3(9)(a) – 3(9)(e) $100.00" … "Burn in unauthorized burning site 3(3) $100.00"
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement and Dispute Adjudication System Bylaw No. 242, 2021, Bylaw 242, Schedule A (Open Burning Bylaw No. 219)](https://canalflats.civicweb.net/document/20426/)
  - Official wording: "small scale fire" … "$100 $75 $125 No"
  - Source: [Open Burning Bylaw No. 219, 2019, s. 8(3)](https://canalflats.civicweb.net/document/11203/)
  - Official wording: "The minimum fine, under the Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw, for a single infraction"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** Village of Canal Flats Open Burning Bylaw No. 219, 2019
  - Source: [Open Burning Bylaw No. 219, 2019, s. 2](https://canalflats.civicweb.net/document/11203/)
  - Official wording: "Village of Canal Flats Open Burning Bylaw No. 219, 2019"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

The [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:

- 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 is allowed 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.

Barbecue cooking fires (charcoal, natural gas, propane) are allowed.

## Steps

1. Check for a ban first (see below).
2. Keep the fire and pile within the limits above.
3. For larger land-clearing piles, follow the large-scale rules below.

## Good to know

- 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.
- Burning noxious materials or domestic waste is prohibited.
- 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.
- 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.
- Fine: bylaw notice $100 ($75 within 14 days, $125 after 28 days) or municipal ticket $100. The bylaw sets a minimum $100 fine.

## Official forms and pages

- [Open Burning Bylaw No. 219, 2019 (PDF)](https://canalflats.civicweb.net/document/11203/)
- [Utilities](https://www.canalflats.ca/village-services/utilities/)

## Related questions

- [Canal Flats fireworks rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/canal-flats/fireworks.md)
- [Canal Flats bylaw fines and how tickets work](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/canal-flats/bylaw-fines.md)
- [Canal Flats garbage collection: schedule, carts and limits](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/canal-flats/garbage-collection.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Backyard fire and burning rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/backyard-fire.md)
- [Invermere](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/invermere/backyard-fire.md)
- [Radium Hot Springs](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/radium-hot-springs/backyard-fire.md)
- [Kimberley](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kimberley/backyard-fire.md)
- [Elkford](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/elkford/backyard-fire.md)
- [Cranbrook](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cranbrook/backyard-fire.md)
- [Kaslo](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kaslo/backyard-fire.md)

## Sources

- [Open Burning Bylaw No. 219, 2019 (PDF), Village of Canal Flats](https://canalflats.civicweb.net/document/11203/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Campfire regulations and fireworks ban, Village of Canal Flats](https://www.canalflats.ca/campfire-regulations-and-fireworks-ban/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Utilities, Village of Canal Flats](https://www.canalflats.ca/village-services/utilities/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement and Dispute Adjudication System Bylaw No. 242, 2021 (PDF), Village of Canal Flats](https://canalflats.civicweb.net/document/20426/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 231, 2020 (PDF), Village of Canal Flats](https://canalflats.civicweb.net/document/47771/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 300, 2026 (PDF), Village of Canal Flats](https://canalflats.civicweb.net/document/50057/) (read 2026-11-08)

_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. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with Village of Canal Flats. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/canal-flats/backyard-fire/_