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

# Castlegar backyard fire and burning rules

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

**Short answer:** Castlegar's Open Air Burning Bylaw 905 is a scanned PDF with no readable text, so we cannot state what fires are allowed. Starting a fire without a permit is a $300 ticket. Before lighting any fire, check with the Castlegar Fire Department at 250-365-3266 and BC Wildfire Service for current bans.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Castlegar, https://www.castlegar.ca)  
**Cost:** Not stated. Any permit fee is in the unreadable bylaw. Tickets run $300 to $500.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Castlegar Fire Department (Fire Chief), 250-365-3266
- Email: Castlegar Fire Department, firehall@castlegar.ca
- Online: BC Wildfire Service (current bans), https://www.bcwildfire.ca
- Phone: BC Wildfire Service, 1-888-3-FOREST

## Key facts

- **Backyard campfires:** Not confirmed. Bylaw 905 is a scanned PDF with no readable text, so its rules could not be read.
- **Burning yard waste:** Not confirmed. Bylaw 905 is a scanned PDF with no readable text, so its rules could not be read.
- **Permit:** The ticket schedule makes it an offence to 'Start a fire without permit' (s. 5.3). Who issues the permit, when one is needed and any fee are not readable.
  - Source: [Municipal Ticketing Bylaw 1179, consolidated to June 2026, Schedule B-11 (Open Air Burning Bylaw)](https://castlegar.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Consolidated.Branded.Bylaw_.1179.Municipal-Ticketing-2.pdf)
  - Official wording: "5.3 Start a fire without permit $300"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fire bans:** Campfire bans follow BC Wildfire Service orders for the Southeast Fire Centre. Check bcwildfire.ca or call 1-888-3-FOREST for current bans, and ask the Fire Department.
  - Source: [Campfire Ban notice (2024), City notice, July 10, 2024](https://castlegar.ca/2024/07/10/campfire-ban/)
  - Official wording: "This follows an announcement by the BC Wildfire Service prohibiting Category 1 campfires throughout the Southeast Fire Centre." … "This City of Castlegar’s prohibition will remain in effect until the BC Wildfire Service rescinds its order for the Southeast Fire Centre." … "call 1-888-3-FOREST or visit: bcwildfire.ca"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Instead of burning:** Weekly curbside organics cart (yard trimmings under 2 in. diameter and 12 in. long). Larger amounts go to the Ootischenia Landfill, which takes yard waste year-round for a fee and free in May and October. The RDCK waives the fee to reduce backyard burning.
  - Source: [City to close yard waste facility, City notice, Jan 17, 2025](https://castlegar.ca/2025/01/17/city-of-castlegar-to-close-yard-waste-facilit/)
  - Official wording: "Ootischenia Landfill: Yard waste is accepted year-round for a fee and is free during May and October." … "Plant, tree, or hedge prunings less than 2 inches in diameter and no more than 12 inches in length"
  - Source: [Yard and Garden Waste, Seasonal Free Tipping, RDCK, RDCK page: Yard & Garden Waste](https://rdck.ca/environmental-service/environmental-services/waste-recycling/household-hazardous-waste-round-up/yard-garden-waste-seasonal-free-tipping/)
  - Official wording: "In order to promote property Fire-Smart activity and reduce backyard burning, the RDCK waives the tipping fee for Yard and Garden Waste"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** Municipal tickets: burn prohibited material $500; out-of-control or dangerous fire $500; start a fire without permit $300; burn during a prohibited period $300; no competent adult in charge $300; no adequate fire fighting equipment $300; nuisance fire $300.
  - Source: [Municipal Ticketing Bylaw 1179, consolidated to June 2026, Schedule B-11 (Open Air Burning Bylaw)](https://castlegar.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Consolidated.Branded.Bylaw_.1179.Municipal-Ticketing-2.pdf)
  - Official wording: "5.2 Burn prohibited material $500" … "5.3 Start a fire without permit $300" … "5.4 Burn during prohibited period $300" … "5.5(a) Burn without a competent adult in charge $300" … "5.5(b) Burn without adequate fire fighting equipment $300" … "5.5(c) Nuisance fire $300" … "5.5(d) Out of control/dangerous fire $500"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Open Air Burning Bylaw No. 905
  - Source: [Open Air Burning Bylaw 905, City bylaw page](https://castlegar.ca/bylaws/bylaw-905-open-air-burning/)
  - Official wording: "Bylaw 905 – Open Air Burning" … "Bylaw Consolidated Date: 01/01/2013"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The City of Castlegar's [Open Air Burning Bylaw 905](https://castlegar.ca/bylaws/bylaw-905-open-air-burning/) governs open fires, but its 2013 consolidation is a scan with no readable text. No standing rule on campfires, fire pits or burning yard waste could be confirmed, and the bylaw's permit conditions and any fee are not stated here.

## Good to know

- Starting a fire without a permit is an offence. Who issues the permit and when one is needed are not readable.
- Campfire bans follow BC Wildfire Service orders for the Southeast Fire Centre. Check bcwildfire.ca or call 1-888-3-FOREST for current bans, and ask the Fire Department at 250-365-3266 or firehall@castlegar.ca. A past City notice described how one ban worked; it is not a standing rule.
- Municipal tickets ([Bylaw 1179](https://castlegar.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Consolidated.Branded.Bylaw_.1179.Municipal-Ticketing-2.pdf)): burning prohibited material $500; out-of-control or dangerous fire $500; fire without a permit $300; burning during a prohibited period $300; no competent adult in charge $300; no adequate fire fighting equipment $300; nuisance fire $300. Provincial open-fire penalties are separate.
- Instead of burning: yard trimmings under 2 inches in diameter and 12 inches long go in the weekly curbside organics cart. Larger amounts can go to the Ootischenia Landfill, which takes yard waste year-round for a fee and free in May and October. The RDCK waives the fee to reduce backyard burning.

## Official forms and pages

- [Open Air Burning Bylaw 905 (consolidated 2013, scanned)](https://castlegar.ca/bylaws/bylaw-905-open-air-burning/)
- [Municipal Ticketing Bylaw 1179 (PDF)](https://castlegar.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Consolidated.Branded.Bylaw_.1179.Municipal-Ticketing-2.pdf)

## Related questions

- [Castlegar fireworks rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/castlegar/fireworks.md)
- [Castlegar yard waste collection and drop-off](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/castlegar/yard-waste.md)
- [Castlegar bylaw fines and how tickets work](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/castlegar/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)
- [Fruitvale](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fruitvale/backyard-fire.md)
- [Trail](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/trail/backyard-fire.md)
- [Warfield](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/warfield/backyard-fire.md)
- [Rossland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/rossland/backyard-fire.md)
- [Montrose](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/montrose/backyard-fire.md)
- [Nelson](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nelson/backyard-fire.md)

## Sources

- [Open Air Burning Bylaw 905, City of Castlegar](https://castlegar.ca/bylaws/bylaw-905-open-air-burning/) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Municipal Ticketing Bylaw 1179, consolidated to June 2026 (PDF)](https://castlegar.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Consolidated.Branded.Bylaw_.1179.Municipal-Ticketing-2.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Fire Department, City of Castlegar](https://castlegar.ca/contact/city-departments/fire-department/) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Campfire Ban notice (2024), City of Castlegar](https://castlegar.ca/2024/07/10/campfire-ban/) (read 2026-11-05)
- [City to close yard waste facility, City of Castlegar](https://castlegar.ca/2025/01/17/city-of-castlegar-to-close-yard-waste-facilit/) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Yard and Garden Waste, Seasonal Free Tipping, RDCK](https://rdck.ca/environmental-service/environmental-services/waste-recycling/household-hazardous-waste-round-up/yard-garden-waste-seasonal-free-tipping/) (read 2026-11-05)

_Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 5 of 7 facts was matched to the official text; 2 could not be confirmed. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with City of Castlegar. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/castlegar/backyard-fire/_