{"title":"Elkford backyard fire and burning rules","question":"Can I have a backyard fire or burn yard waste in Elkford?","slug":"backyard-fire","place":{"path":"ca/bc/elkford","name":"Elkford","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":"District of Elkford","url":"https://www.elkford.ca"},"short_answer":"In Elkford, backyard fires (fire pits, outdoor fireplaces, campfires) need an annual Fire Permit, valid 1 year. Burning yard waste in a fire pit is not allowed. Check current provincial fire bans before burning.","aliases":["fire pit elkford","backyard fire permit elkford","burn permit elkford","open burning elkford"],"cost":"No permit fee found in the Fees and Charges Bylaw or the permit form. Illegal open burning can be charged a cost recovery of $300 for the first hour and $400 per hour after.","how_long":"A Backyard Fire Pit Permit is valid 1 year. An Outdoor Burning Permit is valid 10 days.","where":[{"type":"phone","label":"Elkford Fire Hall (non-emergency)","value":"250-865-4020"},{"type":"email","label":"Elkford Fire Hall","value":"fire@elkford.ca"},{"type":"online","label":"Burn Permit Application Form","value":"https://elkford.civicweb.net/filepro/document/69570/Burn%20Permit%20Application%20Form.pdf"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Fire Protection and Life Safety Bylaw No. 687, 2008 (PDF)","url":"https://elkford.civicweb.net/document/89973/"},{"title":"Burn Permit Application Form (PDF)","url":"https://elkford.civicweb.net/filepro/document/69570/Burn%20Permit%20Application%20Form.pdf"},{"title":"Fire Rescue and Emergency Services, District of Elkford","url":"https://www.elkford.ca/fire-rescue-emergency-services"}],"related":[{"slug":"yard-waste","title":"Elkford yard waste collection and drop-off","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/elkford/yard-waste/"},{"slug":"fireworks","title":"Elkford fireworks rules","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/elkford/fireworks/"},{"slug":"noise-rules","title":"Elkford noise bylaw: quiet hours, construction hours and fines","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/elkford/noise-rules/"},{"slug":"unsightly-property","title":"Elkford unsightly property rules and how to report","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/elkford/unsightly-property/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/sparwood","name":"Sparwood","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sparwood/backyard-fire/"},{"place":"ca/bc/canal-flats","name":"Canal Flats","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/canal-flats/backyard-fire/"},{"place":"ca/bc/fernie","name":"Fernie","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fernie/backyard-fire/"},{"place":"ca/bc/cranbrook","name":"Cranbrook","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cranbrook/backyard-fire/"},{"place":"ca/bc/kimberley","name":"Kimberley","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kimberley/backyard-fire/"},{"place":"ca/bc/invermere","name":"Invermere","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/invermere/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":"Yes, with a Fire Permit: all backyard fires (fire pits, outdoor fireplaces, cooking and campfires) require an annual Fire Permit, valid 1 year. Fire pit must be at least 3 m from buildings, property lines, overhead wires, trees or combustibles, and 1 m from gas lines; built of non-combustible parts. Fuel only barbecue briquettes or dry firewood, clean burning. Attended by a competent adult until fully out. Domestic backyard incinerators are prohibited.","short":"Yes, with an annual Fire Permit","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://elkford.civicweb.net/document/89973/","title":"Fire Protection and Life Safety Bylaw No. 687, 2008 (PDF)","section":"s. 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 6.4","quotes":["In accordance with this bylaw all backyard fires require annual Fire Permits.","A minimum clearance of 3 metres shall be maintained from any buildings, property lines, overhead wires, trees or any combustible materials","Fire pits are not permitted within 1 metre of gas lines","barbecue briquettes or dry firewood and must be clean burning","Fires are to be supervised at all times by a competent adult person"]},{"url":"https://elkford.civicweb.net/filepro/document/69570/Burn%20Permit%20Application%20Form.pdf","title":"Burn Permit Application Form (PDF)","section":"Guidelines for Backyard Fire Pits","quotes":["All backyard fires require a fire permit which is valid for 1 year."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"open_burning":{"label":"Burning yard waste","value":"Not in a fire pit: no burning of vegetation, household paper, construction waste or yard waste. Other outdoor fires need a Fire Permit from the Director; permits may be issued at the Director's discretion for land clearing, reducing a fire hazard, or other acceptable reasons. District permit form lists an Outdoor Burning Permit valid 10 days (land clearing and burning yard waste), and says to follow the provincial venting index (afternoon VI of 55 or greater is the minimum to consider open burning). No permits for industrial, commercial or construction waste.","short":"No in a fire pit; other fires need a Fire Permit","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://elkford.civicweb.net/document/89973/","title":"Fire Protection and Life Safety Bylaw No. 687, 2008 (PDF)","section":"s. 5.1, 5.2, 6.3(b)","quotes":["It shall be unlawful for any person to light, ignite or start any outdoor fire within","Fire Permits may be issued at the discretion of the Director in respect of","Reducing a potential fire hazard as determined by the Director","No burning of vegetation, household scrap paper, construction waste and other","Fire Permits shall not be issued for the burning of industrial, commercial or"]},{"url":"https://elkford.civicweb.net/filepro/document/69570/Burn%20Permit%20Application%20Form.pdf","title":"Burn Permit Application Form (PDF)","section":"Guidelines for Outdoor Fires","quotes":["A fire permit is required for all outdoor fires and is valid for 10 days.","An afternoon VI value of 55 or greater"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"permit":{"label":"Permit","value":"Yes. Fire Permit issued by the Director of Fire Rescue (Elkford Fire and Emergency Services); use the Burn Permit Application Form. Backyard Fire Pit Permit valid 1 year; Outdoor Burning Permit valid 10 days; Meeting Place community fire pit is valid for one use. Contact the Fire Hall 250.865.4020, fire@elkford.ca.","short":"Yes, from Fire Chief; no fee stated","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.elkford.ca/fire-rescue-emergency-services","title":"Fire Rescue and Emergency Services, District of Elkford","section":"Fire & Emergency Services","quotes":["issuance of burning permits","In non-emergency situations, contact 250.865.4020 or fire@elkford.ca."]},{"url":"https://elkford.civicweb.net/filepro/document/69570/Burn%20Permit%20Application%20Form.pdf","title":"Burn Permit Application Form (PDF)","section":"Permit types","quotes":["Backyard Fire Pit Permit (valid for 1 year)","Outdoor Burning Permit (valid for 10 days)"]},{"url":"https://elkford.civicweb.net/document/89973/","title":"Fire Protection and Life Safety Bylaw No. 687, 2008 (PDF)","section":"s. 5.1(a)","quotes":["unless a Fire Permit has been issued by the Director"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"fire_bans":{"label":"Fire bans","value":"The District's fire page links to the Province's Southeast Fire Centre page for current fire prohibitions and burning restrictions; check it before burning. The Director can also refuse or cancel a Fire Permit at any time if burning is hazardous or creates a nuisance.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.elkford.ca/fire-rescue-emergency-services","title":"Fire Rescue and Emergency Services, District of Elkford","section":"Fire & Emergency Services","quotes":["Looking for information about current fire prohibitions and burning restrictions in the Southeast Fire Centre?"]},{"url":"https://elkford.civicweb.net/document/89973/","title":"Fire Protection and Life Safety Bylaw No. 687, 2008 (PDF)","section":"s. 5.4","quotes":["The Director may, at any time, when in the Director’s opinion, burning is hazardous or is"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"alternatives":{"label":"Instead of burning","value":"Black yard waste bins placed around town in spring, summer and fall take grass clippings and leaves only (empty directly into the bin, no bags). Branches and other yard waste go to the Elkford Transfer Station, 6 Inkaneep Road.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.elkford.ca/public-services/publicworks/water-sewer-solid-waste-utilities","title":"Water, Sewer, Solid Waste and Utilities, District of Elkford","section":"Yard Waste","quotes":["black yard waste bins are placed in several locations throughout the community in spring, summer and fall","Branches and other yard waste should be taken directly to the Transfer Station."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"fine":{"label":"Fine","value":null,"status":"unknown","reason":"scanned","note":"The ticket schedule is a scanned document that could not be read.","sources":[]},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Fire Protection and Life Safety Bylaw No. 687, 2008 (Part 5 Outdoor Fire, Part 6 Backyard Fire Pits).","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://elkford.civicweb.net/document/89973/","title":"Fire Protection and Life Safety Bylaw No. 687, 2008 (PDF)","section":"title","quotes":["Fire Protection and Life Safety Bylaw, No. 687, 2008"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":7,"stated":6,"matched":6,"none":0,"unknown":1},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nUnder the [Fire Protection and Life Safety Bylaw No. 687, 2008](<https://elkford.civicweb.net/document/89973/>), all backyard fires (fire pits, outdoor fireplaces, cooking fires and campfires) need an annual Fire Permit from the Director of Fire Rescue. The permit is valid 1 year. The bylaw bans burning vegetation, household paper, construction waste or yard waste in a fire pit, and prohibits domestic backyard incinerators.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Fill in the [Burn Permit Application Form](<https://elkford.civicweb.net/filepro/document/69570/Burn%20Permit%20Application%20Form.pdf>) and send it to the Fire Hall (250-865-4020, fire@elkford.ca).\n2. Build the fire pit at least 3 m from buildings, property lines, overhead wires, trees or combustibles, and 1 m from gas lines, using non-combustible parts.\n3. Burn only barbecue briquettes or dry firewood, and keep the fire clean burning.\n4. Keep a competent adult with the fire until it is fully out.\n5. Before burning, check the Province's Southeast Fire Centre page for current fire bans and restrictions, which the District's [fire page](<https://www.elkford.ca/fire-rescue-emergency-services>) links to.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- Other outdoor fires need a permit from the Director. They may be issued for land clearing, reducing a fire hazard, or other acceptable reasons. The District form lists an Outdoor Burning Permit valid 10 days and says to follow the provincial venting index (an afternoon index of 55 or greater is the minimum to consider open burning). No permits are issued for industrial, commercial or construction waste.\n- The Director can refuse or cancel a permit at any time if burning is hazardous or a nuisance.\n- Black yard waste bins in town take grass clippings and leaves only. Branches go to the Elkford Transfer Station, 6 Inkaneep Road.\n- The bylaw sets a municipal ticket fine of $100 to $1,000 for offences. The ticket schedule is a scanned document we could not read. Illegal open burning can also be charged a cost recovery of $300 for the first hour and $400 per hour after.","sources":[{"url":"https://elkford.civicweb.net/document/89973/","title":"Fire Protection and Life Safety Bylaw No. 687, 2008 (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://elkford.civicweb.net/filepro/document/69570/Burn%20Permit%20Application%20Form.pdf","title":"Burn Permit Application Form (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://www.elkford.ca/fire-rescue-emergency-services","title":"Fire Rescue and Emergency Services, District of Elkford","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://www.elkford.ca/public-services/publicworks/water-sewer-solid-waste-utilities","title":"Water, Sewer, Solid Waste and Utilities, District of Elkford","accessed":"2026-11-08"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-08","review":{"status":"machine_checked","badge":"Checked against official text","label":"Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 6 of 7 facts was matched to the official text; 1 could not be confirmed."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/elkford/backyard-fire/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/elkford/backyard-fire.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/elkford/backyard-fire.json"}}