---
title: Fruitvale backyard fire and burning rules
question: "Can I have a backyard fire or burn yard waste in Fruitvale?"
place: Fruitvale, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/fruitvale
category: Bylaws, noise and complaints
owner: municipal
owner_body: Village of Fruitvale
sources_read: 2026-11-08
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fruitvale/backyard-fire/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fruitvale/backyard-fire.json"
---

# Fruitvale backyard fire and burning rules

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

**Short answer:** In Fruitvale, open burning of any material is banned all year, including yard waste. Intermittent campfires or ceremonial fires are allowed if done safely in a contained area. The bylaw sets no size limit and no permit. The Village follows any provincial campfire ban.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Village of Fruitvale, https://fruitvale.ca)  
**Cost:** No burning permit is set by the bylaw. Fine for unlawful burning: bylaw notice $250.  
**How long:** Standing rule, year-round.  
**Where:**
- In person: Village Office, 1947 Beaver Street, Fruitvale, BC V0G 1L0 (Monday to Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.)
- Phone: Village Office, 250-367-7551
- Email: Village Office, info@village.fruitvale.bc.ca

## Key facts

- **Backyard campfires:** Intermittent campfires or ceremonial fires are permitted if done safely and in a contained area. No size limit is set.
  - Source: [Fire Safety and Prevention Bylaw No. 749, 2006, s. 13](https://fruitvale.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/749-Fire-Safety-_-Prevention-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Intermittent campfires or ceremonial fires are permitted if done safely and in a contained area."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Burning yard waste:** Not allowed. No one may do open burning of any type of material at any time of the year. Garbage, recyclables and other waste may not be burned.
  - Source: [Fire Safety and Prevention Bylaw No. 749, 2006, s. 12](https://fruitvale.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/749-Fire-Safety-_-Prevention-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "No person shall engage in open burning of any type of materials at any time during the year."
  - Source: [Solid Waste and Yard and Garden Waste Collection and Disposal Bylaw No. 964, 2024, s. 7.4](https://fruitvale.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/964-2024-Solid-Waste-Yard-and-Garden-Waste-Collection-and-Disposal.pdf)
  - Official wording: "No person shall dispose of garbage, recyclable materials, waste, special waste or unacceptable waste, by burning."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Permit:** Not confirmed. Not found in the official sources that were read.
- **Fire bans:** If the Ministry of Forests issues a campfire or ceremonial fire ban in the Arrow-Boundary Forest Region, the Village complies with it.
  - Source: [Fire Safety and Prevention Bylaw No. 749, 2006, s. 14](https://fruitvale.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/749-Fire-Safety-_-Prevention-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "In the event that the Ministry of Forests issues a campfire and/or ceremonial fire ban" … "the Village of Fruitvale would comply with this ban"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Instead of burning:** Yard trimmings (leaves, hedge clippings, brush, branches, grass clippings) are collected twice a year, in April (spring clean-up) and October (fall clean-up). McKelvey Creek Landfill in Trail also accepts organic yard waste for a fee. The RDKB Green Bin Program takes kitchen waste.
  - Source: [Garbage and Recycling, Yard Trimmings](https://fruitvale.ca/services/garbage-recycling/)
  - Official wording: "Yard trimmings such as leaves, hedge clippings, brush, branches and grass clippings are collected twice a year, in April during spring clean-up and October during fall clean-up." … "The MCKELVEY CREEK LANDFILL SITE in Trail also accepts organic yard waste for a fee."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Fine:** Bylaw notice: unlawful burning $250 (ss. 12.1 and 14.1); burning unlawful material in a stove or fireplace $150. No municipal ticket listed. In a Village park: unlawful fire or firework $250.
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 976, 2024, Schedule A, Fire Safety and Prevention Bylaw No. 749; Parks Regulation Bylaw](https://fruitvale.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/976-2024-Notice-Enforcement-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Unlawful burning $250 NO" … "Burn unlawful material $150 YES" … "Unlawful fire or firework $250 NO"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** Fire Safety and Prevention Bylaw No. 749, 2006.
  - Source: [Fire Safety and Prevention Bylaw No. 749, 2006, s. 1](https://fruitvale.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/749-Fire-Safety-_-Prevention-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "This by-law may be cited as the “Fire Safety and Prevention By-law No. 749, 2006”."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

The [Fire Safety and Prevention Bylaw No. 749](https://fruitvale.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/749-Fire-Safety-_-Prevention-Bylaw.pdf) bans open burning of any type of material at any time of the year. Garbage, recyclables and other waste may not be burned, and the bylaw has no exception for garden waste. Intermittent campfires or ceremonial fires are allowed if done safely and in a contained area. The bylaw sets no size limit, distance or time limit, and no burning permit for campfires or yard waste.

## Good to know

- If the Ministry of Forests issues a campfire or ceremonial fire ban for the Arrow-Boundary Forest Region, the Village complies with it. The pages we read do not say where to check; the BC Wildfire Service posts current bans. Ask the Village Office at 250-367-7551.
- Instead of burning, yard trimmings (leaves, hedge clippings, brush, branches, grass clippings) are collected twice a year, in April (spring clean-up) and October (fall clean-up).
- McKelvey Creek Landfill in Trail also accepts organic yard waste for a fee. The Regional District of Kootenay Boundary (RDKB) Green Bin Program takes kitchen waste.
- Fines: a bylaw notice for unlawful burning is $250. Burning unlawful material in a stove or fireplace is $150. In a Village park, an unlawful fire or firework is $250.
- The bylaw dates from 2006. Ask the Village if you are unsure whether your fire is allowed.

## Official forms and pages

- [Fire Safety and Prevention Bylaw No. 749, 2006 (PDF), Village of Fruitvale](https://fruitvale.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/749-Fire-Safety-_-Prevention-Bylaw.pdf)

## Related questions

- [Fruitvale fireworks rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fruitvale/fireworks.md)
- [Fruitvale yard waste collection and drop-off](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fruitvale/yard-waste.md)
- [Fruitvale bylaw fines and how tickets work](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fruitvale/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)
- [Montrose](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/montrose/backyard-fire.md)
- [Trail](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/trail/backyard-fire.md)
- [Warfield](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/warfield/backyard-fire.md)
- [Rossland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/rossland/backyard-fire.md)
- [Salmo](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/salmo/backyard-fire.md)
- [Castlegar](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/castlegar/backyard-fire.md)

## Sources

- [Fire Safety and Prevention Bylaw No. 749, 2006 (PDF), Village of Fruitvale](https://fruitvale.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/749-Fire-Safety-_-Prevention-Bylaw.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 976, 2024 (PDF), Village of Fruitvale](https://fruitvale.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/976-2024-Notice-Enforcement-Bylaw.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Garbage and Recycling, Village of Fruitvale](https://fruitvale.ca/services/garbage-recycling/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Solid Waste and Yard and Garden Waste Collection and Disposal Bylaw No. 964, 2024 (PDF), Village of Fruitvale](https://fruitvale.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/964-2024-Solid-Waste-Yard-and-Garden-Waste-Collection-and-Disposal.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)

_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. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with Village of Fruitvale. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fruitvale/backyard-fire/_