{"title":"Comox backyard fire and burning rules","question":"Can I have a backyard fire or burn yard waste in Comox?","slug":"backyard-fire","place":{"path":"ca/bc/comox","name":"Comox","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":"Town of Comox","url":"https://www.comox.ca"},"short_answer":"In Comox, wood-burning backyard fires and fire pits are \"open fires\" and are banned unless an exception applies. Portable propane or natural gas fire pits are allowed if ULC approved. Open burning needs an Open Fire Permit, issued only for farm-classified land of at least 4.05 hectares.","aliases":["backyard fire Comox","fire pit Comox","burning bylaw Comox","open burning permit Comox"],"cost":"No permit fee found in the Fees and Charges Bylaw.","how_long":null,"where":[{"type":"phone","label":"Comox Fire Rescue (non-emergency)","value":"250-339-2432"},{"type":"phone","label":"Town Bylaw Enforcement Officer (Comox Town Hall)","value":"250-339-2202","note":"Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m."},{"type":"phone","label":"Emergency","value":"9-1-1"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Fire Prevention and Regulation Bylaw No. 1856 (PDF)","url":"https://www.comox.ca/sites/default/files/2022-04/Bylaw%201856%20-%20Fire%20Regulation.pdf"},{"title":"Organics, Town of Comox","url":"https://www.comox.ca/organics"}],"related":[{"slug":"fireworks","title":"Comox fireworks rules","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/comox/fireworks/"},{"slug":"yard-waste","title":"Comox yard waste collection and drop-off","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/comox/yard-waste/"},{"slug":"bylaw-fines","title":"Comox bylaw fines and how tickets work","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/comox/bylaw-fines/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/courtenay","name":"Courtenay","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/courtenay/backyard-fire/"},{"place":"ca/bc/cumberland","name":"Cumberland","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cumberland/backyard-fire/"},{"place":"ca/bc/powell-river","name":"Powell River","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/powell-river/backyard-fire/"},{"place":"ca/bc/campbell-river","name":"Campbell River","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/campbell-river/backyard-fire/"},{"place":"ca/bc/port-alberni","name":"Port Alberni","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-alberni/backyard-fire/"},{"place":"ca/bc/qualicum-beach","name":"Qualicum Beach","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/qualicum-beach/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":"Not allowed at home. Wood-burning backyard fires and fire pits are 'open fires', banned unless an exception applies. Portable propane or natural gas fire pits are allowed on residential land if ULC approved, used 2 m from combustibles and supervised by someone 16 or older.","short":"No, only propane or natural gas fire pits","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.comox.ca/sites/default/files/2022-04/Bylaw%201856%20-%20Fire%20Regulation.pdf","title":"Fire Prevention and Regulation Bylaw No. 1856 (PDF)","section":"ss. 2(1)(o), 6(1), 6(5)","quotes":["backyard fires, beach fires, campfires, and fires used for the","the use of outdoor wood-burning fireplaces, fire pits, chiminias and","No person shall start or maintain an open fire, or cause or allow an open fire","Portable outdoor propane or natural gas fueled fireplaces and fire pits are","residential land;","Appliance must be ULC approved;","two metres from all","competent person who is at least 16 years old"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"open_burning":{"label":"Burning yard waste","value":"Only with an Open Fire Permit: daylight hours, on no more than two days between November 1 and 7 and two days between April 1 and 7, fire no larger than 1 cubic metre, one fire per property.","short":"Only with a permit, 2 days each in Nov and Apr","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.comox.ca/sites/default/files/2022-04/Bylaw%201856%20-%20Fire%20Regulation.pdf","title":"Fire Prevention and Regulation Bylaw No. 1856 (PDF)","section":"s. 6(7)(a)","quotes":["Open fires must not be ignited, maintained or otherwise permitted","two days between November 1st and 7th inclusive","two days between April 1st and April 7th inclusive","Open fires must not be larger than 1 cubic metre","Only one open fire is permitted per property."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"permit":{"label":"Permit","value":"Yes: an Open Fire Permit from the Fire Chief. The applicant must be the registered owner and complete the application form. Issued only for properties of at least 4.05 hectares in the Agricultural Land Reserve and classified as farm land.","short":"Yes, ALR farm land of 4.05 hectares or more","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.comox.ca/sites/default/files/2022-04/Bylaw%201856%20-%20Fire%20Regulation.pdf","title":"Fire Prevention and Regulation Bylaw No. 1856 (PDF)","section":"s. 6(6)","quotes":["Each applicant for an Open Fire Permit must","be a registered owner of the property for which the Open Fire","An Open Fire Permit will only be issued for properties at least 4.05","hectares in area within the Agricultural Land Reserve"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"fire_bans":{"label":"Fire bans","value":"The Fire Chief may post a notice (beach and campground fires) or issue a written notice (open fires) that fires are not allowed because of drought, lack of rain, combustibles, wind or any other reason. No fire may be lit until the notice is removed or cancelled.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.comox.ca/sites/default/files/2022-04/Bylaw%201856%20-%20Fire%20Regulation.pdf","title":"Fire Prevention and Regulation Bylaw No. 1856 (PDF)","section":"s. 6(4)(a), 6(6)(f), 6(6)(g)","quotes":["the Fire Chief may post a notice advising that fires are not allowed","a written notice advising that open fires are not allowed","start or maintain an open fire until the notice is cancelled, in writing, by"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"alternatives":{"label":"Instead of burning","value":"Curbside organics cart, collected weekly (branches up to 3 inches across, lid closed). Extra yard waste (not kitchen waste) can go to the Comox Valley Waste Management Centre landfill in Cumberland.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.comox.ca/organics","title":"Organics, Town of Comox","section":"Organics page","quotes":["Food and yard waste are co-mingled and are collected weekly.","each branch can be no more than 3 inches in diameter and must fit fully inside the cart","Take your excess organics to the landfill (Comox Valley Waste Management Centre) in Cumberland"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"fine":{"label":"Fine","value":"Bylaw notice: open fire $75 if paid within 14 days, $100 after; open fire without a permit, at night, over 1 m³ or more than one fire $150 / $200. Municipal ticket under Bylaw 1856: $100 (open fire) or $200 (without permit, at night, over 1 m³).","short":"Notice $75 if paid in 14 days, $100 after; ticket $100","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.comox.ca/sites/default/files/2026-08/Bylaw%202004%20Consolidated%20-%20Bylaw%20Notice%20Enforcement%20as%20at%20June%2010%2C%202026.pdf","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2004 (consolidated to June 10, 2026) (PDF)","section":"Schedule A, A5","quotes":["Start or maintain an open","6(1) 75 100 N/A","6(6)(b) 150 200 N/A","6(7)(a)(ii) 150 200 N/A"]},{"url":"https://www.comox.ca/sites/default/files/2022-04/Bylaw%201856%20-%20Fire%20Regulation.pdf","title":"Fire Prevention and Regulation Bylaw No. 1856 (PDF)","section":"s. 13 (offence table)","quotes":["Start or maintain an open fire 6(1) $100.00","6(6)(b) $200.00"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Comox Fire Prevention and Regulation Bylaw, 2017 (Bylaw No. 1856)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.comox.ca/sites/default/files/2022-04/Bylaw%201856%20-%20Fire%20Regulation.pdf","title":"Fire Prevention and Regulation Bylaw No. 1856 (PDF)","section":"s. 1","quotes":["This bylaw may be cited for all purposes as the \"Comox Fire Prevention and","Regulation Bylaw, 2017\"."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":7,"stated":7,"matched":7,"none":0,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nUnder the [Fire Prevention and Regulation Bylaw No. 1856](https://www.comox.ca/sites/default/files/2022-04/Bylaw%201856%20-%20Fire%20Regulation.pdf), wood-burning backyard fires and fire pits are \"open fires\" and are not allowed at home unless an exception applies.\n\n- Portable propane or natural gas fire pits are allowed on residential land if ULC approved, used 2 m from combustibles and supervised by someone 16 or older.\n- Exceptions in the bylaw cover beach fires at the Point Holmes boat launch area, and campfires at 685 Lazo Road from May 15 to September 15 (fires out by 11:00 p.m.).\n- Open burning needs an Open Fire Permit from the Fire Chief. The applicant must be the registered owner. Permits are issued only for properties of at least 4.05 hectares in the Agricultural Land Reserve that are classified as farm land, so yard waste cannot be burned on an ordinary residential lot.\n- With a permit: daylight hours only, on no more than two days between November 1 and 7 and two days between April 1 and 7, fire no larger than 1 cubic metre, one fire per property.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- The Fire Chief may post a notice (beach and campground fires) or issue a written notice (open fires) that fires are not allowed because of drought, lack of rain, combustibles, wind or any other reason. The bylaw does not say where to check; call Comox Fire Rescue at 250-339-2432.\n- Instead of burning, use the weekly organics cart or the landfill. See the yard waste answer.\n- Fines: a bylaw notice for an open fire is $75 if paid within 14 days and $100 after; for an open fire without a permit, at night, over 1 m³ or more than one fire it is $150 / $200. A municipal ticket under Bylaw 1856 is $100 (open fire) or $200 (without permit, at night, over 1 m³).\n- A court fine can be $500 to $10,000.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.comox.ca/town-hall/departmental-directory","title":"Departmental Directory | Town of Comox","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www.comox.ca/sites/default/files/2022-04/Bylaw%201856%20-%20Fire%20Regulation.pdf","title":"Fire Prevention and Regulation Bylaw No. 1856 (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www.comox.ca/sites/default/files/2026-08/Bylaw%202004%20Consolidated%20-%20Bylaw%20Notice%20Enforcement%20as%20at%20June%2010%2C%202026.pdf","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2004 (consolidated to June 10, 2026) (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www.comox.ca/organics","title":"Organics, Town of Comox","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 7 of 7 facts was matched to the official text."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/comox/backyard-fire/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/comox/backyard-fire.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/comox/backyard-fire.json"}}