Cumberland backyard fire and burning rules

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

Cumberland, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-08

How it works

The Village of Cumberland allows small recreational fires (campfires) with a free permit under its Fire Protection Services and Regulation Bylaw No. 988. Open burning is not allowed in the Village. Land-clearing and yard waste fires are no longer permitted, except forestry fires on Private Managed Forest Land and municipal burning.

Steps

1. Get the free campfire permit from the Village (see the Outdoor Burning page).
2. Burn only clean dry wood, in a CSA-approved appliance or a fire ring with a screen of 9.5 mm mesh or smaller.
3. Keep the fire no larger than 0.5 m (1.5 ft) across, at least 1.5 m from vegetation and 3 m from any building, and not under tree branches.
4. Before lighting, check that no ban is in effect. The Village page links to the provincial fire danger rating.

Good to know

• No burning is allowed while a ban set by the Manager of Protective Services or the BC Wildfire Management Branch is in effect, and campfire permits are not valid during a ban. The page also suggests checking the venting index for burning days.
• Instead of burning, use curbside organics and yard waste collection or the Comox Valley Waste Management Centre.
• Outside the Village boundary, the Rural Cumberland (Royston) Fire Protection Area has its own yard waste fire permits, valid October 15 to April 15.
• Tickets: fire without a permit $200 ($100 if paid early); recreational fire contrary to the bylaw $200 ($100); burning prohibited materials $400 ($200); burning that causes a hazard $400 ($200); land-clearing fire contrary to the bylaw $1,000 ($500).