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Cranbrook backyard fire and burning rules

Can I have a backyard fire or burn yard waste?

Cranbrook, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-05

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.

Key facts

Backyard campfiresAllowed: 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.Fire Services Bylaw No. 3676, 2010 (consolidated to June 11, 2018), s. 5.5(b); Schedule A 'Campfire'; FAQ, Cranbrook Fire and Emergency Services, FAQ 9 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
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
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
Burning yard wasteBurning 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)).Fire Services Bylaw No. 3676, 2010 (consolidated to June 11, 2018), ss. 5.4, 5.6; FAQ, Cranbrook Fire and Emergency Services, FAQ 9 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
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
Open air burning is restricted to burning of land clearing debris between November 1st and April 30th.
PermitA 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.Fire Services Bylaw No. 3676, 2010 (consolidated to June 11, 2018), s. 5.6(a), (b) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
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
Fire bansThe 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.FAQ, Cranbrook Fire and Emergency Services, FAQ 9; Fire Services Bylaw No. 3676, 2010 (consolidated to June 11, 2018), s. 5.10 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
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
may suspend all outdoor burning if he
deems that conditions exist that such burning creates a fire hazard.
Instead of burningThe 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.Cranbrook Transfer Station, Regional District of East Kootenay, Cranbrook Transfer Station page; Central Subregion Tipping Fee Schedule (last updated June 2022), RDEK · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
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
Yard or Garden Waste - under 6” diameter
NO CHARGE
FineMunicipal 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.Municipal Ticketing Information System Bylaw No. 3856, 2016, Schedule B5; Fire Services Bylaw No. 3676, 2010 (consolidated to June 11, 2018), s. 11.1(a) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
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
a
fine of not less than one hundred ($100.00) Dollars and not more than
BylawCity of Cranbrook Fire Services Bylaw No. 3676, 2010Fire Services Bylaw No. 3676, 2010 (consolidated to June 11, 2018), s. 1.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
City of Cranbrook Fire Services Bylaw
No. 3676, 2010

How it works

The Fire Services Bylaw 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

The same question in other places

Kimberley · Fernie · Canal Flats · Sparwood · Creston · Elkford

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

Sources

  1. FAQ, Cranbrook Fire and Emergency Services (read 2026-11-05)
  2. Fire Services Bylaw No. 3676, 2010 (consolidated to June 11, 2018) (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
  3. Municipal Ticketing Information System Bylaw No. 3856, 2016 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
  4. Cranbrook Transfer Station, Regional District of East Kootenay (read 2026-11-05)
  5. Central Subregion Tipping Fee Schedule (last updated June 2022), RDEK (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. How answers are checked.