GovHandbook

Gibsons backyard fire and burning rules

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

Gibsons, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-06

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.

Key facts

Backyard campfiresNot 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.Bylaw enforcement, Open Burning Bylaw; Fire Regulation Bylaw No. 660, 1993, s. 2.4; s. 1.1(n); Residential Backyard Burning Bylaw No. 971, 2003, s. 7(a); Public Places Regulation Bylaw No. 1012, s. 5(k) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
open fires, including campfires, beach fires and the burning of garden refuse are prohibited within the Town of Gibsons.
All open burning is prohibited.
but it does not include portable appliances, for the purpose of cooking food, or
ceremonial fires;
except where such fire is
contained within a portable appliance or device and is used solely for the
cooking and preparation of food.
Light any fire except in places specially provided therefore, unless in a
portable barbecue grill;
Burning yard wasteNot 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.Fire Regulation Bylaw No. 660, 1993, s. 2.4, 3.1, 10.1; Fire services, Backyard Burning; Residential Backyard Burning Bylaw No. 971, 2003, s. 10 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
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repealed on January 1. 2006.
the Town of Gibsons does not allow backyard burning or beach fires at any time.
No person shall start, maintain or permit an outdoor clearing waste fire:
During the months of July and August;
PermitNo 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.Fire Regulation Bylaw No. 660, 1993, s. 2.4; Residential Backyard Burning Bylaw No. 971, 2003, s. 13(a), 13(b) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
All open burning is prohibited.
Each application for a clearing waste fire permit shall require the payment
of a fee of twenty-five ($25.00) dollars.
Fire bansThe 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.Residential Backyard Burning Bylaw No. 971, 2003, s. 6(g) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
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
Instead of burningTake 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.Green waste, Sunshine Coast Regional District, SCRD Green Waste page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
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.
FineBylaw 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).Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1125, Schedule A, Bylaw 971, 660, 1012 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
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
BylawResidential Backyard Burning Bylaw No. 971, 2003; Fire Regulation Bylaw No. 660, 1993Fire Regulation Bylaw No. 660, 1993, s. Title; Residential Backyard Burning Bylaw No. 971, 2003, s. 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
This Bylaw may be cited as the “Residential Backyard Burning Bylaw No. 971, 2003”
This bylaw may be cited as “Fire Regulation Bylaw No. 660”.

How it works

Residential Backyard Burning Bylaw No. 971 (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 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

The same question in other places

Bowen Island · West Vancouver · Lions Bay · Sechelt · District of North Vancouver · North Vancouver

Backyard fire and burning rules in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

  1. Residential Backyard Burning Bylaw No. 971, 2003, Town of Gibsons (2005 consolidation) (read 2026-11-06)
  2. Fire Regulation Bylaw No. 660, 1993, Town of Gibsons (2006 consolidation) (read 2026-11-06)
  3. Public Places Regulation Bylaw No. 1012, Town of Gibsons (read 2026-11-06)
  4. Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1125, Town of Gibsons (consolidated) (read 2026-11-06)
  5. Fire services, Town of Gibsons (read 2026-11-06)
  6. Bylaw enforcement, Town of Gibsons (read 2026-11-06)
  7. Green waste, Sunshine Coast Regional District (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. How answers are checked.