GovHandbook

Central Saanich backyard fire and burning rules

Can I have a backyard fire or burn yard waste in Central Saanich?

Central Saanich, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-06

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.

Key facts

Backyard campfiresYes, 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.Open Burning Regulation Bylaw No. 2058, 2020, ss. 2.1, 4.9, 4.2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
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
Burning yard wasteYard 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.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).Open Burning Regulation Bylaw No. 2058, 2020, ss. 2.1, 5.1-5.4; Burning Information, Important Burning Information · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
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
Open fires will be limited to the winter burning season October 16 - May 15
PermitYes 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.Burning Information; Open Burning Regulation Bylaw No. 2058, 2020, s. 5.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
All outdoor burning requires a permit which can be obtained online here: Burning Permit Application or at Fire Hall #1, 1512 Keating Cross Road.
must obtain a permit from the Fire Chief or authorized Member of the Fire Department
Fire bansNo 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.Open Burning Regulation Bylaw No. 2058, 2020, ss. 4.2, 7.2(g); Fire bans and restrictions, Province of BC, Current prohibitions and restrictions · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
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
Even if there are no provincial open fire prohibitions in place, always check with local government authorities for any other open fire restrictions.
Instead of burningCompost 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.Recycling, Compost and Garbage, Yard Waste · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
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.
FineNot confirmed. The fine amounts in the bylaw's text are unreadable.
BylawOpen Burning Regulation Bylaw No. 2058, 2020Open Burning Regulation Bylaw No. 2058, 2020, page header · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
Open Burning Regulation Bylaw No. 2058,2020

How it works

The Open Burning Regulation Bylaw No. 2058 sets two kinds of residential fire.

  • 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.
  • 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.

Steps

  1. 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.
  2. Check the venting index and the current fire prohibitions before you light.
  3. Never burn garbage, plastics, treated wood, construction waste or other materials the bylaw lists as banned.
  4. Stay with the fire and put it out fully.

Good to know

  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Agricultural fires and incinerators have separate rules.
  • Alternatives: compost yard waste, drop it at Hartland Landfill or DL Bins on Keating Cross Road for a fee, or hire a collection service.
  • 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.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Sidney · North Saanich · Highlands · Saanich · View Royal · Esquimalt

Backyard fire and burning rules in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

  1. Open Burning Regulation Bylaw No. 2058, 2020 (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)
  2. Burning Information, District of Central Saanich (read 2026-11-06)
  3. Fire bans and restrictions, Province of BC (read 2026-11-06)
  4. Recycling, Compost and Garbage, District of Central Saanich (read 2026-11-06)

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. How answers are checked.