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

# Esquimalt backyard fire and burning rules

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

**Short answer:** In Esquimalt, any open-air fire, including in a fire pit or container, needs a free Fire Chief permit. The bylaw lists only four permit purposes, not recreational campfires. Burning yard waste is prohibited. Charcoal, propane or natural gas appliances need no permit.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Township of Esquimalt, https://www.esquimalt.ca)  
**Cost:** Open Burning Permit: no fee. Bylaw notice for an open-air fire without a permit: $100 ($75 if paid early).  
**How long:** Check the permit for its dates. The Fire Chief can order a burning ban at any time.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Esquimalt Fire Rescue Services, 250-414-7126
- Email: Open burning permit and fire questions, fire@esquimalt.ca
- Phone: Bylaw enforcement, 250-414-7161 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)

## Key facts

- **Backyard campfires:** Any open-air fire, including in a container or device, needs a Fire Chief permit, and the bylaw lists only four permit purposes (pest control, fire training, cultural observances, special events), not recreational campfires. Charcoal, natural gas or propane appliances on a firm non-combustible base need none. Keep fires 6 m from buildings.
  - Source: [Fire Protection and Control Bylaw 2011, No. 2783 (consolidated February 2025), s. 38(1), 38(6), 40](https://www.esquimalt.ca/media/file/fire-protection-and-control-bylaw-consolidation)
  - Official wording: "any fire of any kind whatsoever in the open air or in an appliance, container or device" … "in the open air, without first having obtained a permit from the Fire Chief." … "an outdoor appliance that uses charcoal briquettes or" … "sits on a firm non-combustible base." … "No person shall permit any fire to be located within 6 metres of any building or within 1" … "The Fire Chief may issue a permit on such terms and conditions he/she feels are" … "(iii) ethnic and cultural observances; and"
  - Source: [Outdoor burning and fireworks brochure, Esquimalt Fire Rescue, Brochure: Outdoor burning](https://www.esquimalt.ca/media/file/brochure-outdoor-burning-fire-web-2025)
  - Official wording: "Private residential burning that uses" … "propane, natural gas, or charcoal" … "briquettes is permitted without a permit"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Burning yard waste:** Burning garden refuse is prohibited (as are treated wood, plastic, garbage, paper products other than to start a fire, construction waste and fireworks). Permits are issued only for disease and pest control, fire suppression training, cultural observances and special events.
  - Source: [Fire Protection and Control Bylaw 2011, No. 2783 (consolidated February 2025), s. 38(2)-(4)](https://www.esquimalt.ca/media/file/fire-protection-and-control-bylaw-consolidation)
  - Official wording: "(iv) garden refuse" … "The Fire Chief may issue a permit on such terms and conditions he/she feels are" … "(i) disease and pest control;" … "(iii) ethnic and cultural observances; and"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Permit:** Yes, from the Fire Chief (Esquimalt Fire Rescue Services). Open Burning Permit: no fee; apply by email to fire@esquimalt.ca; a site inspection may be required.
  - Source: [Open Burning Permit form](https://www.esquimalt.ca/sites/default/files/2023-12-migration/Open_Burning_Permit.pdf)
  - Official wording: "THERE IS NO FEE FOR THIS PERMIT" … "AN INSPECTION OF THE SITE MAY BE REQUIRED" … "PLEASE SUBMIT AN APPLICATION TO FIRE@ESQUIMALT.CA"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fire bans:** The Fire Chief may order that no burning is to occur in the Township for a set or indefinite time; permits already issued stop being effective from the date of the order.
  - Source: [Fire Protection and Control Bylaw 2011, No. 2783 (consolidated February 2025), s. 38(5)](https://www.esquimalt.ca/media/file/fire-protection-and-control-bylaw-consolidation)
  - Official wording: "The Fire Chief may, where he/she deems it expedient to do so, order that no" … "burning is to occur within the Municipality for an indefinite or a specified period of" … "time, and any previously issued permits cease to be effective"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Instead of burning:** Take yard and garden waste to the Esquimalt/View Royal drop-off at 605 Canteen Road (Tuesday to Sunday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed statutory holidays; free to residents with proof of residency). Yard waste may not go in the garbage or kitchen scraps bins.
  - Source: [Yard & Garden Waste](https://www.esquimalt.ca/municipal-services/garbage-recycling/yard-garden-waste)
  - Official wording: "Residents of Esquimalt and View Royal can drop off yard and garden waste at 605 Canteen Road" … "Hours of operation are Tuesday to Sunday from 8 am –5 pm." … "This service is free to Esquimalt and View Royal residents."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** Bylaw notice: open-air fire without a permit $100 ($75 early, $125 late); burning prohibited material $100; fire too close to a building or combustibles $200 ($150 early, $250 late); nuisance fire $100.
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 2014, No. 2839 (consolidated September 2026), Schedule E, s. 38, 40, 41](https://www.esquimalt.ca/media/file/2026-09-bylaw-2839-bylaw-notice-enforcement-consolidation)
  - Official wording: "38(1) Have open air fire without permit 100.00 75.00 125.00" … "38(2) Burn prohibited material 100.00 75.00 125.00" … "Have fire too close to 200.00 150.00 250.00" … "41 Nuisance fire 100.00 75.00 125.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Fire Protection and Control Bylaw, 2011, No. 2783
  - Source: [Fire Protection and Control Bylaw 2011, No. 2783 (consolidated February 2025), Title](https://www.esquimalt.ca/media/file/fire-protection-and-control-bylaw-consolidation)
  - Official wording: "FIRE PROTECTION AND CONTROL BYLAW, 2011, NO. 2783"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Under Part 3 of the [Fire Protection and Control Bylaw No. 2783](https://www.esquimalt.ca/media/file/fire-protection-and-control-bylaw-consolidation), any open-air fire of any kind, including one in a container or device, needs a permit from the Fire Chief. Permits are issued only for disease and pest control, fire suppression training, cultural observances and special events. The bylaw does not list recreational campfires or fire pits.

Charcoal, natural gas or propane appliances on a firm non-combustible base need no permit. Keep fires 6 m from buildings.

## Burning yard waste

Burning garden refuse is prohibited, as are treated wood, plastic, garbage, paper products (other than to start a fire), construction waste and fireworks.

## Steps (to apply for a permit)

1. Fill in the [Open Burning Permit form](https://www.esquimalt.ca/sites/default/files/2023-12-migration/Open_Burning_Permit.pdf) (no fee).
2. Email it to fire@esquimalt.ca. A site inspection may be required.

## Good to know

- The Fire Chief may order that no burning is to occur for a set or indefinite time. Permits already issued stop being effective from the date of the order. To check for a current ban, contact Esquimalt Fire Rescue Services at fire@esquimalt.ca or 250-414-7126.
- Instead of burning, take yard and garden waste to the Esquimalt/View Royal drop-off at 605 Canteen Road. See [yard waste](yard-waste).
- Bylaw notices: open-air fire without a permit $100 ($75 early); burning prohibited material $100; fire too close to a building or combustibles $200 ($150 early); nuisance fire $100. Early means paid within 14 days.

## Official forms and pages

- [Open Burning Permit form (PDF)](https://www.esquimalt.ca/sites/default/files/2023-12-migration/Open_Burning_Permit.pdf)
- [Fire Protection and Control Bylaw 2011, No. 2783 (consolidated February 2025) (PDF)](https://www.esquimalt.ca/media/file/fire-protection-and-control-bylaw-consolidation)
- [Outdoor burning and fireworks brochure, Esquimalt Fire Rescue (PDF)](https://www.esquimalt.ca/media/file/brochure-outdoor-burning-fire-web-2025)

## Related questions

- [Esquimalt fireworks rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/fireworks.md)
- [Esquimalt yard waste collection and drop-off](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/yard-waste.md)
- [Esquimalt bylaw fines and how tickets work](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/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)
- [View Royal](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/view-royal/backyard-fire.md)
- [Victoria](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/victoria/backyard-fire.md)
- [Colwood](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/colwood/backyard-fire.md)
- [Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/saanich/backyard-fire.md)
- [Oak Bay](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/oak-bay/backyard-fire.md)
- [Langford](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langford/backyard-fire.md)

## Sources

- [Fire Protection and Control Bylaw 2011, No. 2783 (consolidated February 2025) (PDF)](https://www.esquimalt.ca/media/file/fire-protection-and-control-bylaw-consolidation) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Outdoor burning and fireworks brochure, Esquimalt Fire Rescue (PDF)](https://www.esquimalt.ca/media/file/brochure-outdoor-burning-fire-web-2025) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Open Burning Permit form (PDF)](https://www.esquimalt.ca/sites/default/files/2023-12-migration/Open_Burning_Permit.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Yard & Garden Waste, Township of Esquimalt](https://www.esquimalt.ca/municipal-services/garbage-recycling/yard-garden-waste) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 2014, No. 2839 (consolidated September 2026) (PDF)](https://www.esquimalt.ca/media/file/2026-09-bylaw-2839-bylaw-notice-enforcement-consolidation) (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 Township of Esquimalt. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/backyard-fire/_