{"title":"Central Saanich backyard fire and burning rules","question":"Can I have a backyard fire or burn yard waste in Central Saanich?","slug":"backyard-fire","place":{"path":"ca/bc/central-saanich","name":"Central Saanich","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":"District of Central Saanich","url":"https://www.centralsaanich.ca"},"short_answer":"In Central Saanich, a small recreational fire needs no permit if it is no more than 0.5 m high and wide. Burning yard waste needs a permit from the Fire Chief and is allowed only in the winter burning season. No fires during a fire prohibition.","aliases":["campfire bylaw central saanich","burning permit central saanich","fire pit rules central saanich","burn yard waste central saanich"],"cost":"The permit fee is set in the Fees and Charges Bylaw, which could not be read. Ask the Fire Department.","how_long":"Yard waste burning is allowed only in the winter burning season, which the bylaw says is October 15 to May 15.","where":[{"type":"phone","label":"Fire Prevention","value":"250-544-4238"},{"type":"in_person","label":"Fire Hall","value":"1512 Keating Cross Road"},{"type":"online","label":"Burning information and permits","value":"https://www.centralsaanich.ca/programs-services/fire/burning-information"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Open Burning Regulation Bylaw No. 2058, 2020 (PDF)","url":"https://www.centralsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2023-05/2058_open_burning_regulation.pdf"},{"title":"Fire bans and restrictions, BC Wildfire Service","url":"https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/wildfire-status/prevention/fire-bans-and-restrictions"}],"related":[{"slug":"fireworks","title":"Central Saanich fireworks rules","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/central-saanich/fireworks/"},{"slug":"yard-waste","title":"Central Saanich yard waste collection and drop-off","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/central-saanich/yard-waste/"},{"slug":"bylaw-fines","title":"Central Saanich bylaw fines and how tickets work","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/central-saanich/bylaw-fines/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/sidney","name":"Sidney","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sidney/backyard-fire/"},{"place":"ca/bc/north-saanich","name":"North Saanich","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-saanich/backyard-fire/"},{"place":"ca/bc/highlands","name":"Highlands","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/highlands/backyard-fire/"},{"place":"ca/bc/saanich","name":"Saanich","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/saanich/backyard-fire/"},{"place":"ca/bc/view-royal","name":"View Royal","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/view-royal/backyard-fire/"},{"place":"ca/bc/esquimalt","name":"Esquimalt","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/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":"Yes, no permit. At most 0.5 m high and 0.5 m wide, clean firewood, 3 m from any building, structure, fence, property line, tree, bush or combustible material. Keep it watched with 8 litres of water ready and put it fully out. Not allowed during a fire prohibition.","short":"Yes, no permit, up to 0.5 m x 0.5 m","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.centralsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2023-05/2058_open_burning_regulation.pdf","title":"Open Burning Regulation Bylaw No. 2058, 2020 (PDF)","section":"ss. 2.1, 4.9, 4.2","quotes":["A person who ignites or burns a Recreational Fire is not required to obtain a permit","using clean, proper firewood for recreational purposes, including cooking or heating","ordered by the Province or by the Fire Chief or other Officer of the Fire Department is in","the fire is watched and patrolled by a competent person","a container carrying at least 8 litres of water"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"open_burning":{"label":"Burning yard waste","value":"Yard waste fires need a permit and are allowed only in the winter burning season (the bylaw says October 15 to May 15; the web page says October 16 to May 15). One pile at most 1 m high and 1 m wide, branches no thicker than 3 cm, 7.5 m from buildings and fences. Burn from 1 hour after sunrise to 4 p.m. (or 2 hours before sunset, if later), only when the venting forecast is Fair or Good.","short":"Only with a permit, Oct 15 to May 15","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.centralsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2023-05/2058_open_burning_regulation.pdf","title":"Open Burning Regulation Bylaw No. 2058, 2020 (PDF)","section":"ss. 2.1, 5.1-5.4","quotes":["is only permitted during the Winter","the fire is situated at least 7.5 metres from any building, structure, fence, property line, tree, bush or other combustible material","the ventilation forecast for 4pm on the day of the proposed burn must be Fair or Good"]},{"url":"https://www.centralsaanich.ca/programs-services/fire/burning-information","title":"Burning Information, District of Central Saanich","section":"Important Burning Information","quotes":["Open fires will be limited to the winter burning season October 16 - May 15"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"},"sources_differ":"Bylaw 2058 defines Winter Season as 'October 15th through May 15th'. The web page says October 16. The bylaw wins. Agricultural fires and incinerators have separate rules. Burning of garbage, plastics, treated wood, construction waste and other listed materials is banned (s. 4.5)."},"permit":{"label":"Permit","value":"Yes for yard waste fires: a permit from the Fire Chief, available online (Community Connect) or at Fire Hall #1, 1512 Keating Cross Road. Fire Prevention: 250-544-4238. Recreational fires need no permit.","short":"Yes for yard waste fires; none for recreational fires","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.centralsaanich.ca/programs-services/fire/burning-information","title":"Burning Information, District of Central Saanich","section":"Burning","quotes":["All outdoor burning requires a permit which can be obtained online here: Burning Permit Application or at Fire Hall #1, 1512 Keating Cross Road."]},{"url":"https://www.centralsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2023-05/2058_open_burning_regulation.pdf","title":"Open Burning Regulation Bylaw No. 2058, 2020 (PDF)","section":"s. 5.1","quotes":["must obtain a permit from the Fire Chief or authorized Member of the Fire Department"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"fire_bans":{"label":"Fire bans","value":"No one may light or keep burning an open fire during a prohibition ordered by the Province or the Fire Chief, who may restrict or ban all open fires. Provincial bans are listed by fire centre on the BC Wildfire Service prohibitions page; also check with the District.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.centralsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2023-05/2058_open_burning_regulation.pdf","title":"Open Burning Regulation Bylaw No. 2058, 2020 (PDF)","section":"ss. 4.2, 7.2(g)","quotes":["restrict and prohibit any Open Fire, and impose a ban on all Open Fires for a period of time","ordered by the Province or by the Fire Chief or other Officer of the Fire Department is in"]},{"url":"https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/wildfire-status/prevention/fire-bans-and-restrictions","title":"Fire bans and restrictions, Province of BC","section":"Current prohibitions and restrictions","quotes":["Even if there are no provincial open fire prohibitions in place, always check with local government authorities for any other open fire restrictions."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"alternatives":{"label":"Instead of burning","value":"Compost yard waste in a backyard bin, drop it at Hartland Landfill or DL Bins on Keating Cross Road for a fee, or hire a collection service.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.centralsaanich.ca/programs-services/recycling-compost-garbage","title":"Recycling, Compost and Garbage, District of Central Saanich","section":"Yard Waste","quotes":["Yard waste can be dropped off locally at Hartland Landfill or DL Bins on Keating Cross Road for a fee.","You can compost garden waste in your backyard compost bin, drop it at Hartland, or hire a collection service to pick it up."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"fine":{"label":"Fine","value":null,"status":"unknown","reason":"scanned","note":"The fine amounts in the bylaw's text are unreadable.","sources":[]},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Open Burning Regulation Bylaw No. 2058, 2020","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.centralsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2023-05/2058_open_burning_regulation.pdf","title":"Open Burning Regulation Bylaw No. 2058, 2020 (PDF)","section":"page header","quotes":["Open Burning Regulation Bylaw No. 2058,2020"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":7,"stated":6,"matched":6,"none":0,"unknown":1},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nThe [Open Burning Regulation Bylaw No. 2058](<https://www.centralsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2023-05/2058_open_burning_regulation.pdf>) sets two kinds of residential fire.\n\n- Recreational fire (campfire): no permit. At most 0.5 m high and 0.5 m wide, using clean firewood, 3 m from any building, structure, fence, property line, tree, bush or combustible material. Keep it watched with 8 litres of water ready and put it fully out.\n- Yard waste fire: needs a permit, and is allowed only in the winter burning season. One pile at most 1 m high and 1 m wide, with branches no thicker than 3 cm, 7.5 m from buildings and fences. Burn from 1 hour after sunrise to 4 p.m. (or 2 hours before sunset, if later), and only when the venting forecast is Fair or Good.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. For a yard waste fire, get a permit from the Fire Chief, online (Community Connect) or at Fire Hall #1, 1512 Keating Cross Road. Fire Prevention: 250-544-4238.\n2. Check the venting index and the current fire prohibitions before you light.\n3. Never burn garbage, plastics, treated wood, construction waste or other materials the bylaw lists as banned.\n4. Stay with the fire and put it out fully.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- No one may light or keep burning an open fire during a prohibition ordered by the Province or the Fire Chief. Provincial bans are on the BC Wildfire Service prohibitions page. Also check with the District.\n- The bylaw gives the winter season as October 15 to May 15, but the District's web page says October 16. The bylaw is followed here, so confirm with the Fire Department.\n- The web page says all outdoor burning needs a permit and that recreational fires are allowed in the burning season. The bylaw exempts recreational fires and sets no season for them. Confirm with the Fire Department.\n- Agricultural fires and incinerators have separate rules.\n- Alternatives: compost yard waste, drop it at Hartland Landfill or DL Bins on Keating Cross Road for a fee, or hire a collection service.\n- The bylaw sets maximum court and ticket fines, but the amounts are unreadable in its text, and the 2020 ticket schedule could not be matched to this bylaw. Ask the District for current fines.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.centralsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2023-05/2058_open_burning_regulation.pdf","title":"Open Burning Regulation Bylaw No. 2058, 2020 (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www.centralsaanich.ca/programs-services/fire/burning-information","title":"Burning Information, District of Central Saanich","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/wildfire-status/prevention/fire-bans-and-restrictions","title":"Fire bans and restrictions, Province of BC","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www.centralsaanich.ca/programs-services/recycling-compost-garbage","title":"Recycling, Compost and Garbage, District of Central Saanich","accessed":"2026-11-06"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-06","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/central-saanich/backyard-fire/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/central-saanich/backyard-fire.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/central-saanich/backyard-fire.json"}}