---
title: Creston backyard fire and burning rules
question: "Can I have a backyard fire or burn yard waste in Creston?"
place: Creston, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/creston
category: Bylaws, noise and complaints
owner: municipal
owner_body: Town of Creston
sources_read: 2026-11-06
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/creston/backyard-fire/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/creston/backyard-fire.json"
---

# Creston backyard fire and burning rules

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

**Short answer:** In Creston, a small cooking fire in a barbecue or fire pit needs no permit if it meets the bylaw's conditions. Burning yard waste (leaves, grass, hedge clippings, small prunings) is banned at all times. Other open burning needs a permit from the Fire Chief, and no one may burn during a fire ban.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Town of Creston, https://www.creston.ca)  
**Cost:** Open burning permit $15 to $250. Bylaw notices: burning without a permit $250 ($225 if paid within 14 days, $275 if paid late); burning during a fire ban $475; burning barrel $100.  
**How long:** A permit is valid one week; land clearing permits are valid up to 30 days. At most six permits per property per year.  
**Where:**
- Online: Burning Permits page, https://www.creston.ca/burn-permits
- In person: Town Hall or the Creston Emergency Services Building (buy a permit), 238 - 10th Ave. N., Creston, BC
- Phone: Town Hall, 250-428-2214
- Online: BC Wildfire Service (fire bans), https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/wildfire-status

## Key facts

- **Backyard campfires:** A cooking fire in a barbecue or fire pit up to 0.5 m across and under 0.5 m high, with a screen, burning clean dry seasoned firewood, charcoal, propane or gas, needs no permit if Schedule A is met (adult 19+ attending, water at hand, 7.5 m from trees, 4.5 m from combustibles, no ban).
  - Source: [Open Burning Bylaw No. 1929 (consolidated to September 26, 2023), s. 4.4; Schedule A Part 1](https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2023-09/Open%20Burning%20Bylaw%20No.%201929.pdf)
  - Official wording: "A Permit is not required under This Bylaw for cooking fires contained within a barbecue or fire" … "Fire cannot exceed 0.5 metre diameter by 0.5 metre in height." … "The fire must be 7.5 metres (25 feet) from any standing timber / tree line." … "There is no bans on cooking (or camp fires) either by the Fire Chief or a Provincial Ministry."
  - Source: [Burning Permits, Burning Permits page, Cooking Fires](https://www.creston.ca/burn-permits)
  - Official wording: "to be used for cooking only"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Burning yard waste:** Burning yard waste (leaves, grass, hedge clippings, small prunings) is prohibited at all times. A permitted residential pile must not contain yard waste, must come from the property, and be no bigger than 1 m across by 0.5 m high; daylight hours only, 4 hours at most, only when the ventilation index is favourable; no burning barrels. (Sources differ: The Burning Permits page still lists residential piles of 'leaves, foliage or weeds' as permit-eligible and cites Fire Service Bylaw No. 1774; Open Burning Bylaw No. 1929 (amended by 1990, consolidated Sept 2023) bans yard waste burning and the Sept 2023 news post confirms it. Bylaw followed. 'Yard Waste' means plant matter such as hedge clippings, leaves, grass and prunings under 1 m long and 2.5 cm in circumference; the news post says branches over 2.5 cm in diameter may still be burned with a permit. Burning on public land needs a written fire safety plan and permit.)
  - Source: [Open Burning Bylaw No. 1929 (consolidated to September 26, 2023), ss. 4.3, 4.24, 4.28, 4.30, 4.31; Schedule A Part 2](https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2023-09/Open%20Burning%20Bylaw%20No.%201929.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Yard Waste burning is prohibited at all times." … "No person shall use burning barrels." … "No person shall burn unless the ventilation index is favorable, as provided by the Ministry of" … "No burning shall exceed a four (4) hour duration unless otherwise permitted by This Bylaw." … "Fire must not exceed 1 metre in diameter by 0.5 metre high." … "Fire may not consist of yard waste or prohibited materials and must be material generated from"
  - Source: [Changes to the Open Burning Bylaw, Town news (September 27, 2023), Town news, September 27, 2023](https://www.creston.ca/town-news/changes-open-burning-bylaw)
  - Official wording: "burning yard waste such as leaves, twigs, and grass clippings is no longer allowed."
  - Source: [Burning Permits, Burning Permits page](https://www.creston.ca/burn-permits)
  - Official wording: "Permits are required for all open fires for the purposes of burning:" … "Residential piles no more than 1 cubic metre of leaves, foliage or weeds"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Permit:** Yes. Open burning (residential piles, field clearing, large piles, land clearing) needs an open burning permit from the Fire Chief, bought at Town Hall or the Creston Emergency Services Building. Valid one week (land clearing permits up to 30 days); at most six permits per property per year. Fees $15 to $250.
  - Source: [Open Burning Bylaw No. 1929 (consolidated to September 26, 2023), ss. 4.5, 4.8, 4.13, 4.14](https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2023-09/Open%20Burning%20Bylaw%20No.%201929.pdf)
  - Official wording: "where authorized by a Permit issued by the Fire Chief under This Bylaw." … "Only six (6) burning Permits will be issued to a property address in each calendar year." … "valid for one (1) week from the date of issuance" … "will be valid for one (1) week from the date of issuance, except for land clearing" … "comply with the thirty (30) days limit on the validity of Permits issued for land clearing"
  - Source: [Burning Permits, Burning Permits page](https://www.creston.ca/burn-permits)
  - Official wording: "Burning permits can be purchased at Town Hall or at the Creston Emergency Services Building."
  - Source: [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 1763, Schedule 6, Schedule 6, Fire Services Permits and Fees](https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2026-06/Fees%20and%20Charges-1763.pdf)
  - Official wording: "i. Residential leaves, foliage, weeds $15.00" … "ii. Freestanding grass and brush $50.00" … "iii. Large Piles $85.00" … "iv. Land Clearing $250.00 per pile"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fire bans:** Permits are revoked or suspended during a total fire ban by the Fire Chief or the Province, and the Fire Chief may impose a general ban when conditions are unsafe. No one may burn during a provincial ban. Check the BC Wildfire Service fire prohibitions page.
  - Source: [Open Burning Bylaw No. 1929 (consolidated to September 26, 2023), ss. 4.20, 4.21, 4.23](https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2023-09/Open%20Burning%20Bylaw%20No.%201929.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Permits shall be revoked or suspended during a total fire ban proclaimed by the Fire Chief, or" … "he or she may impose a general ban on open burning for the duration of those conditions." … "No person shall burn during times for which the Ministry of Forests, the Ministry of"
  - Source: [Burning Permits, Burning Permits page](https://www.creston.ca/burn-permits)
  - Official wording: "Fire Prohibitions website" … "check the ventilation index by calling 888-281-2992"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Instead of burning:** Curbside yard waste pickup three times a year; Sullivan Stone (501 Helen Street) takes leaves, grass, soil and plants for $2 a load; the RDCK Creston Landfill (1501 Mallory Road) takes yard waste, free in April and October.
  - Source: [Yard Waste, Yard Waste page](https://www.creston.ca/yard-waste)
  - Official wording: "Yard waste is collected three times a year once in the spring and twice in the fall by the Public Works crew." … "Yard and garden waste is accepted at Sullivan Stone for $2 per load - 501 Helen Street." … "During the months of April and October (only) the Creston Landfill accepts Yard & Garden Waste for FREE."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** Bylaw notice: burning without a permit $250 ($225 if paid within 14 days; $275 if paid late); burning during a fire ban $475 ($450, $500); burning barrel $100 ($90, $110); burning prohibited materials $475.
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1760, Schedule A, Open Burning Bylaw rows](https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2026-04/Bylaw%20Notice%20Enforcement.pdf)
  - Official wording: "1929 4.1 Prohibited open burning without permit $250.00 $225.00 $275.00 Yes" … "1929 4.23 Burning during fire ban $475.00 $450.00 $500.00 No" … "1929 4.24 Prohibited use - burning barrel $100.00 $90.00 $110.00 Yes"
  - Source: [Open Burning Bylaw No. 1929 (consolidated to September 26, 2023), s. 5.1](https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2023-09/Open%20Burning%20Bylaw%20No.%201929.pdf)
  - Official wording: "to a fine not exceeding $10,000 and not less than $2,500"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Open Burning Bylaw No. 1929, 2021
  - Source: [Open Burning Bylaw No. 1929 (consolidated to September 26, 2023), s. 1.1](https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2023-09/Open%20Burning%20Bylaw%20No.%201929.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Open Burning Bylaw No. 1929, 2021"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The [Open Burning Bylaw No. 1929](<https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2023-09/Open%20Burning%20Bylaw%20No.%201929.pdf>) governs fires in Creston.

- **Cooking fire, no permit:** a barbecue or fire pit up to 0.5 m across and under 0.5 m high, with a screen, burning clean dry seasoned firewood, charcoal, propane or gas. Conditions: an adult 19 or older attends, water is at hand, it is 7.5 m from trees and 4.5 m from combustibles, and no ban is in effect.
- **Yard waste:** burning leaves, grass, hedge clippings and small prunings is prohibited at all times.
- **Other open burning** needs an open burning permit from the Fire Chief.

## Steps

1. For a pile that needs a permit, buy an open burning permit at Town Hall or the Creston Emergency Services Building.
2. The pile must not contain yard waste, must come from your property, and be no bigger than 1 m across by 0.5 m high.
3. Burn in daylight hours only, for 4 hours at most, and only when the ventilation index is favourable. No burning barrels.
4. Before you light any fire, check the BC Wildfire Service fire prohibitions page for bans.

## Good to know

- The Town's Burning Permits page still lists residential piles of leaves, foliage or weeds, but the bylaw and the Town's September 2023 news post say yard waste burning is banned. Follow the bylaw. Branches over 2.5 cm in diameter may still be burned with a permit, according to the news post.
- Permits are revoked or suspended during a total fire ban by the Fire Chief or the Province. No one may burn during a provincial ban.
- Burning on public land needs a written fire safety plan and a permit.
- Larger recreational bonfires would need an open burning permit.
- Instead of burning, see the yard waste answer for curbside pickup and drop-off.
- Court fine of $2,500 to $10,000 is possible on conviction. Exceeding the residential fire size is a $150 bylaw notice.

## Official forms and pages

- [Open Burning Bylaw No. 1929 (PDF)](https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2023-09/Open%20Burning%20Bylaw%20No.%201929.pdf)
- [Burning Permits, Town of Creston](https://www.creston.ca/burn-permits)

## Related questions

- [Creston yard waste collection and drop-off](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/creston/yard-waste.md)
- [Creston fireworks rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/creston/fireworks.md)
- [Creston bylaw fines and how tickets work](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/creston/bylaw-fines.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Backyard fire and burning rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/backyard-fire.md)
- [Salmo](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/salmo/backyard-fire.md)
- [Kimberley](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kimberley/backyard-fire.md)
- [Cranbrook](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cranbrook/backyard-fire.md)
- [Fruitvale](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fruitvale/backyard-fire.md)
- [Nelson](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nelson/backyard-fire.md)
- [Montrose](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/montrose/backyard-fire.md)

## Sources

- [Open Burning Bylaw No. 1929 (PDF) (consolidated to September 26, 2023)](https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2023-09/Open%20Burning%20Bylaw%20No.%201929.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Burning Permits, Town of Creston](https://www.creston.ca/burn-permits) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Changes to the Open Burning Bylaw, Town news (September 27, 2023)](https://www.creston.ca/town-news/changes-open-burning-bylaw) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 1763, Schedule 6 (PDF)](https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2026-06/Fees%20and%20Charges-1763.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1760 (PDF)](https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2026-04/Bylaw%20Notice%20Enforcement.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Yard Waste, Town of Creston](https://www.creston.ca/yard-waste) (read 2026-11-06)

_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 Town of Creston. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/creston/backyard-fire/_