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

# Cranbrook backyard fire and burning rules

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

**Short answer:** In Cranbrook, burning yard waste or household waste in the open is prohibited under Fire Services Bylaw 3676. Small campfires in a fire pit, chimenea or approved stove are allowed, subject to any provincial fire ban. Only land clearing debris can be burned, with a permit, in winter.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Cranbrook, https://www.cranbrook.ca)  
**Cost:** Permit fee not stated. Municipal tickets for burning offences run $100 to $500; court fine $100 to $10,000.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Cranbrook Fire and Emergency Services (non-emergency), 250-426-2325 (Call 911 for a fire out of control.)
- Online: BC fire bans and restrictions, https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/wildfire-status/fire-bans-and-restrictions

## Key facts

- **Backyard campfires:** Allowed: cooking fires and campfires in the open air within acceptable fire pits, chimeneas or approved stoves. The bylaw defines a campfire as recreational wood burning in a fire pit or similar device not larger than 60 cm across. City guidance: pit no bigger than 24 in across, kept 10 ft from buildings and fences; burn only charcoal or seasoned wood; supervise it.
  - Source: [Fire Services Bylaw No. 3676, 2010 (consolidated to June 11, 2018), s. 5.5(b); Schedule A 'Campfire'](https://cranbrook.civicweb.net/document/5036)
  - Official wording: "cooking fires and camp fires in the open air" … "may be permitted within acceptable fire pits, chimeneas or approved stove." … "not larger than 60 cm in"
  - Source: [FAQ, Cranbrook Fire and Emergency Services, FAQ 9](https://www.cranbrook.ca/our-city/city-departments/fire-and-emergency-services/faq)
  - Official wording: "Should be no larger than 24 inches in diameter or 20 inches in height." … "Should be a minimum of 10 feet from buildings, fences, or other combustible." … "Materials which may be burned should consist of only charcoal or cut, seasoned wood"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Burning yard waste:** Burning yard waste or household waste in the open air is strictly prohibited. Only land clearing debris from the same site may be burned, with a permit, between November 1 and March 31 (the Director may extend), at least 100 m from neighbouring homes and businesses, in daylight, on good venting days. (Sources differ: Conflict: the City's Fire FAQ says land clearing debris may be burned between November 1 and April 30; the bylaw (consolidated to June 11, 2018) says November 1 to March 31. The bylaw is used. Also: ignition only when the smoke venting index is 55 or better (34 on the second day); no adding fuel after 5:00 p.m.; smoke release limited to 72 consecutive hours (s. 5.6(g), (j), (k)).)
  - Source: [Fire Services Bylaw No. 3676, 2010 (consolidated to June 11, 2018), ss. 5.4, 5.6](https://cranbrook.civicweb.net/document/5036)
  - Official wording: "Burning of residential waste, including both household and yard" … "materials, is strictly prohibited in the open air." … "Burning of Land Clearing Debris may only occur between November 1 and" … "March 31, when authorized by the Director of Fire and Emergency Services." … "must be carried out at least 100 metres"
  - Source: [FAQ, Cranbrook Fire and Emergency Services, FAQ 9](https://www.cranbrook.ca/our-city/city-departments/fire-and-emergency-services/faq)
  - Official wording: "Open air burning is restricted to burning of land clearing debris between November 1st and April 30th."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Permit:** A burning permit is needed only for land clearing debris. It is issued by the Director of Fire and Emergency Services, only for debris from the same site and after any provincial or federal approval. No permit is mentioned for ordinary campfires. Fee: not stated.
  - Source: [Fire Services Bylaw No. 3676, 2010 (consolidated to June 11, 2018), s. 5.6(a), (b)](https://cranbrook.civicweb.net/document/5036)
  - Official wording: "The Director of Fire and Emergency Services may issue a Permit to allow" … "burning of Land Clearing Debris in open air." … "originating from the site on which the burning is to be carried out"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fire bans:** The City follows all Provincial campfire bans; check the BC government fire bans and restrictions page. The Director of Fire and Emergency Services may also suspend all outdoor burning if it creates a fire hazard.
  - Source: [FAQ, Cranbrook Fire and Emergency Services, FAQ 9](https://www.cranbrook.ca/our-city/city-departments/fire-and-emergency-services/faq)
  - Official wording: "The City of Cranbrook follows all Provincial campfire bans set forth by the Provincial Government." … "https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/wildfire-status/fire-bans-and-restrictions"
  - Source: [Fire Services Bylaw No. 3676, 2010 (consolidated to June 11, 2018), s. 5.10](https://cranbrook.civicweb.net/document/5036)
  - Official wording: "may suspend all outdoor burning if he" … "deems that conditions exist that such burning creates a fire hazard."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Instead of burning:** The Cranbrook Transfer Station (2405 22nd St N, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily) takes yard and garden waste; the RDEK's June 2022 fee schedule lists yard or garden waste under 6 inches in diameter as no charge.
  - Source: [Cranbrook Transfer Station, Regional District of East Kootenay, Cranbrook Transfer Station page](https://www.rdek.bc.ca/departments/environmentalservices/garbage_recycling/cranbrooktransferstation)
  - Official wording: "The Cranbrook Transfer Station is located behind Lordco Auto Parts at 2405 22nd St N." … "8:30am to 5:30pm seven days a week" … "Yard and Garden Waste"
  - Source: [Central Subregion Tipping Fee Schedule (last updated June 2022), RDEK](https://www.rdek.bc.ca/web/pdf/recycling/CentralSubregion-TippingFeeSchedule2022.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Yard or Garden Waste - under 6” diameter" … "NO CHARGE"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** Municipal ticket: burning in the open air or without a permit $150; burning in a public place where prohibited $100; burning too close to residences or businesses $150; failing to control a land clearing debris fire $500. There is no bylaw notice schedule for this bylaw.
  - Source: [Municipal Ticketing Information System Bylaw No. 3856, 2016, Schedule B5](https://cranbrook.civicweb.net/document/106172)
  - Official wording: "Burning Where Prohibited 5.1(a) 100.00" … "Burning in Open Air 5.4 150.00" … "Burning Without a Permit 5.4 150.00" … "Failure to Control a Land Clearing Debris Fire 5.6(e) 500.00"
  - Source: [Fire Services Bylaw No. 3676, 2010 (consolidated to June 11, 2018), s. 11.1(a)](https://cranbrook.civicweb.net/document/5036)
  - Official wording: "a" … "fine of not less than one hundred ($100.00) Dollars and not more than"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** City of Cranbrook Fire Services Bylaw No. 3676, 2010
  - Source: [Fire Services Bylaw No. 3676, 2010 (consolidated to June 11, 2018), s. 1.1](https://cranbrook.civicweb.net/document/5036)
  - Official wording: "City of Cranbrook Fire Services Bylaw" … "No. 3676, 2010"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The [Fire Services Bylaw](https://cranbrook.civicweb.net/document/5036) strictly prohibits burning yard waste or household waste in the open air. The only open burning allowed besides campfires is land clearing debris from the same site, with a permit from the Director of Fire and Emergency Services. No permit is mentioned for ordinary campfires.

## Steps

1. Check the BC government fire bans page first. The City follows all provincial campfire bans, and the Director may also suspend all outdoor burning if it creates a fire hazard.
2. For a campfire, use an acceptable fire pit, chimenea or approved stove. The bylaw defines a campfire as recreational wood burning in a device not larger than 60 cm across.
3. City guidance: a pit no bigger than 24 inches across and 20 inches high, kept 10 feet from buildings and fences. Burn only charcoal or seasoned wood, and supervise the fire.
4. For land clearing debris, call Fire and Emergency Services at 250-426-2325 about a permit.

## Good to know

- Land clearing debris season: the bylaw says November 1 to March 31 (the Director may extend it). The City's Fire FAQ says November 1 to April 30. Confirm with the fire department before you plan a burn.
- Other conditions: at least 100 m from neighbouring homes and businesses, in daylight, on good venting days (smoke venting index 55 or better), no fuel added after 5:00 p.m., and smoke limited to 72 consecutive hours.
- Fires in parks or other public places are banned except in designated areas.
- Fire Services will attend a complaint and may require a fire to be put out.
- Municipal tickets: burning in the open air or without a permit $150; in a public place where prohibited $100; too close to residences or businesses $150; failing to control a land clearing fire $500.
- Instead of burning, the Cranbrook Transfer Station takes yard and garden waste; see the yard-waste answer.

## Official forms and pages

- [Fire and Emergency Services FAQ (question 9)](https://www.cranbrook.ca/our-city/city-departments/fire-and-emergency-services/faq)
- [Fire Services Bylaw No. 3676, 2010 (consolidated, PDF)](https://cranbrook.civicweb.net/document/5036)

## Related questions

- [Cranbrook fireworks rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cranbrook/fireworks.md)
- [Cranbrook yard waste collection and drop-off](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cranbrook/yard-waste.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Backyard fire and burning rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/backyard-fire.md)
- [Kimberley](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kimberley/backyard-fire.md)
- [Fernie](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fernie/backyard-fire.md)
- [Canal Flats](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/canal-flats/backyard-fire.md)
- [Sparwood](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sparwood/backyard-fire.md)
- [Creston](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/creston/backyard-fire.md)
- [Elkford](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/elkford/backyard-fire.md)

## Sources

- [FAQ, Cranbrook Fire and Emergency Services](https://www.cranbrook.ca/our-city/city-departments/fire-and-emergency-services/faq) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Fire Services Bylaw No. 3676, 2010 (consolidated to June 11, 2018) (PDF)](https://cranbrook.civicweb.net/document/5036) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Municipal Ticketing Information System Bylaw No. 3856, 2016 (PDF)](https://cranbrook.civicweb.net/document/106172) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Cranbrook Transfer Station, Regional District of East Kootenay](https://www.rdek.bc.ca/departments/environmentalservices/garbage_recycling/cranbrooktransferstation) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Central Subregion Tipping Fee Schedule (last updated June 2022), RDEK](https://www.rdek.bc.ca/web/pdf/recycling/CentralSubregion-TippingFeeSchedule2022.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)

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