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

# Gibsons backyard fire and burning rules

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

**Short answer:** No. In Gibsons, open burning is prohibited, and the Town says backyard burning, campfires and beach fires are not allowed at any time. Portable cooking appliances are not covered. Burning prohibited waste is a $250 bylaw notice. Take yard waste to the SCRD depot.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Town of Gibsons, https://www.gibsons.ca)  
**Cost:** Bylaw notice $250 for burning prohibited waste (first offence). Permit application for an agricultural clearing-waste fire: $25.  
**How long:** Standing rule.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Bylaw Officer, Town of Gibsons, 604-886-2274
- Phone: Gibsons and District Volunteer Fire Department (non-emergency), 604-885-6870

## Key facts

- **Backyard campfires:** Not allowed. The Town says open fires, including campfires and beach fires, are prohibited. Bylaw 971 leaves out portable cooking appliances and ceremonial fires, and Bylaw 660 allows only a portable appliance used solely for cooking. In public places, fires only where provided or in a portable barbecue.
  - Source: [Bylaw enforcement, Open Burning Bylaw](https://gibsons.ca/services/bylaw-enforcement/)
  - Official wording: "open fires, including campfires, beach fires and the burning of garden refuse are prohibited within the Town of Gibsons."
  - Source: [Fire Regulation Bylaw No. 660, 1993, s. 2.4; s. 1.1(n)](https://gibsons.civicweb.net/document/5242/)
  - Official wording: "All open burning is prohibited." … "but it does not include portable appliances, for the purpose of cooking food, or" … "ceremonial fires;"
  - Source: [Residential Backyard Burning Bylaw No. 971, 2003, s. 7(a)](https://gibsons.civicweb.net/document/121708/)
  - Official wording: "except where such fire is" … "contained within a portable appliance or device and is used solely for the" … "cooking and preparation of food."
  - Source: [Public Places Regulation Bylaw No. 1012, s. 5(k)](https://gibsons.civicweb.net/document/5261/)
  - Official wording: "Light any fire except in places specially provided therefore, unless in a" … "portable barbecue grill;"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Burning yard waste:** Not allowed. Bylaw 971 s. 2.4 prohibits all open burning, and the Town says backyard burning is not allowed at any time. Burning garbage, construction waste or noxious material is also banned. Fire Regulation Bylaw 660 (2006 consolidation) still describes permits for agricultural clearing-waste fires, not in July or August; ask the Fire Department.
  - Source: [Fire Regulation Bylaw No. 660, 1993, s. 2.4, 3.1, 10.1](https://gibsons.civicweb.net/document/5242/)
  - Official wording: "All open burning is prohibited." … "No person shall dispose of animal organic waste, construction waste," … "Section 2.4 comes into force and Sections 2.2, 2.3, 2.5 and 2.6 are" … "repealed on January 1. 2006."
  - Source: [Fire services, Backyard Burning](https://gibsons.ca/services/fire/)
  - Official wording: "the Town of Gibsons does not allow backyard burning or beach fires at any time."
  - Source: [Residential Backyard Burning Bylaw No. 971, 2003, s. 10](https://gibsons.civicweb.net/document/121708/)
  - Official wording: "No person shall start, maintain or permit an outdoor clearing waste fire:" … "During the months of July and August;"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Permit:** No permit is available for ordinary backyard burning because all open burning is prohibited. A clearing-waste fire on agricultural land needs a permit from the Fire Chief or Fire Inspection Officer; the application fee is $25.
  - Source: [Fire Regulation Bylaw No. 660, 1993, s. 2.4](https://gibsons.civicweb.net/document/5242/)
  - Official wording: "All open burning is prohibited."
  - Source: [Residential Backyard Burning Bylaw No. 971, 2003, s. 13(a), 13(b)](https://gibsons.civicweb.net/document/121708/)
  - Official wording: "Each application for a clearing waste fire permit shall require the payment" … "of a fee of twenty-five ($25.00) dollars."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fire bans:** The Fire Chief may ban certain types of burning or all burning by written order when conditions of unusual danger exist. The order takes effect when issued and stays until the Fire Chief rescinds it in writing.
  - Source: [Residential Backyard Burning Bylaw No. 971, 2003, s. 6(g)](https://gibsons.civicweb.net/document/121708/)
  - Official wording: "ban certain types of burning or all" … "burning of any nature included burning in incinerators within the Town or" … "Every such order shall be effective as" … "of the date of issue and shall remain in effect until rescinded by the Fire Chief"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Instead of burning:** Take yard waste to the Sunshine Coast Regional District's Green Waste Drop-off Depot, 915 Henry Road, Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. (closed statutory holidays). Loads under 0.5 tonnes are free.
  - Source: [Green waste, Sunshine Coast Regional District, SCRD Green Waste page](https://www.scrd.ca/green-waste/)
  - Official wording: "Address: 915 Henry Road, Elphinstone" … "Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 3:45 p.m." … "Saturday and Sunday 10:00 a.m. to 3:45 p.m." … "Loads less than 0.5 tonnes are free."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** Bylaw notices: burning prohibited waste $250 first offence ($200 if paid early, $300 late), $300 second or later offence; starting a fire without a permit under the Fire Regulation Bylaw $100 ($80 early, $120 late); burning prohibited materials $200 ($150, $300); lighting a fire in a public place without a permit $50 ($40, $60).
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1125, Schedule A, Bylaw 971, 660, 1012](https://gibsons.civicweb.net/document/104779/)
  - Official wording: "Burning prohibited waste $250 $300 $200 $250 $300 $350" … "Start fire without permit $100 $80 $120" … "Burn prohibited materials $200 $150 $300" … "Light a fire without permit $50 $40 $60"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Residential Backyard Burning Bylaw No. 971, 2003; Fire Regulation Bylaw No. 660, 1993
  - Source: [Fire Regulation Bylaw No. 660, 1993, s. Title](https://gibsons.civicweb.net/document/5242/)
  - Official wording: "This Bylaw may be cited as the “Residential Backyard Burning Bylaw No. 971, 2003”"
  - Source: [Residential Backyard Burning Bylaw No. 971, 2003, s. 1](https://gibsons.civicweb.net/document/121708/)
  - Official wording: "This bylaw may be cited as “Fire Regulation Bylaw No. 660”."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

[Residential Backyard Burning Bylaw No. 971](<https://gibsons.civicweb.net/document/121708/>) (s. 2.4) prohibits all open burning in Gibsons, and the Town says backyard burning and beach fires are not allowed at any time. Burning garbage, construction waste or noxious material is also banned. The bylaw leaves out portable cooking appliances and ceremonial fires. [Fire Regulation Bylaw No. 660](<https://gibsons.civicweb.net/document/5242/>) allows only a portable appliance used solely for cooking. In public places, fires are allowed only where provided or in a portable barbecue.

## Steps

1. Do not light a yard-waste or campfire. No permit is available for ordinary backyard burning.
2. Take yard waste to the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) Green Waste Drop-off Depot, 915 Henry Road: Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 3:45 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. to 3:45 p.m., closed statutory holidays. Loads under 0.5 tonnes are free.
3. To ask about a clearing-waste fire on agricultural land, contact the Fire Department.

## Good to know

- Bylaw 660 still describes permits from the Fire Chief or Fire Inspection Officer for clearing-waste fires on agricultural land (application fee $25), not in July or August. That bylaw is a 2006 consolidation, so confirm with the Fire Department.
- The Fire Chief may ban certain or all burning by written order in unusual danger. No page read says where current bans are posted; ask the Bylaw Officer (604-886-2274, beo@gibsons.ca) or the Fire Department non-emergency line (604-885-6870).
- Bylaw notices: burning prohibited waste $250 first offence ($200 if paid early, $300 late), $300 for a second or later offence; fire without a permit under the Fire Regulation Bylaw $100; fire in a public place without a permit $50.
- Fire pit size is not set in any bylaw read.

## Official forms and pages

- [Residential Backyard Burning Bylaw No. 971, 2003 (Town of Gibsons)](https://gibsons.civicweb.net/document/121708/)
- [Fire Regulation Bylaw No. 660, 1993 (Town of Gibsons)](https://gibsons.civicweb.net/document/5242/)

## Related questions

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

## The same question elsewhere

- [Backyard fire and burning rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/backyard-fire.md)
- [Bowen Island](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/bowen-island/backyard-fire.md)
- [West Vancouver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-vancouver/backyard-fire.md)
- [Lions Bay](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lions-bay/backyard-fire.md)
- [Sechelt](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sechelt/backyard-fire.md)
- [District of North Vancouver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver-district/backyard-fire.md)
- [North Vancouver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver/backyard-fire.md)

## Sources

- [Residential Backyard Burning Bylaw No. 971, 2003, Town of Gibsons (2005 consolidation)](https://gibsons.civicweb.net/document/121708/) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Fire Regulation Bylaw No. 660, 1993, Town of Gibsons (2006 consolidation)](https://gibsons.civicweb.net/document/5242/) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Public Places Regulation Bylaw No. 1012, Town of Gibsons](https://gibsons.civicweb.net/document/5261/) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1125, Town of Gibsons (consolidated)](https://gibsons.civicweb.net/document/104779/) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Fire services, Town of Gibsons](https://gibsons.ca/services/fire/) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Bylaw enforcement, Town of Gibsons](https://gibsons.ca/services/bylaw-enforcement/) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Green waste, Sunshine Coast Regional District](https://www.scrd.ca/green-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 Gibsons. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/gibsons/backyard-fire/_