Gold River backyard fire and burning rules
Can I have a backyard fire or burn yard waste in Gold River?
Short answer
In Gold River, a backyard wood campfire or fire pit must be registered with the Village and follow Schedule C. Open burning is prohibited April 15 to October 15. Burning yard debris, garbage and construction waste is strictly prohibited; only land-clearing debris may be burned, under a permit.
Key facts
| Backyard campfires | Backyard campfires, fire pits, chimineas and outdoor fireplaces not fuelled by natural gas or propane must be registered and follow Schedule C: 4 m (13 ft) clear of structures, 2 m (6.5 ft) from shrubbery and wooden fences, base no larger than 1 m x 1 m (3 ft x 3 ft), extinguishing equipment such as a charged hose at hand, constant supervision by a resident over 16, and fully out by 11:00 p.m. Open burning is prohibited April 15 to October 15. Gas or propane appliances, and charcoal or pellet fires in barbecues or other approved appliances, are exempt from the ban and the permit.Open Fire Regulation Bylaw No. 718, 2019, s. 2.4; Open Fire Regulation Bylaw No. 718, 2019, s. 2.1; Open Fire Regulation Bylaw No. 718, 2019, s. 2.3; Open Fire Regulation Bylaw No. 718, 2019, Sched. C · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingBackyard campfires, fire pits, chimineas and outdoor fireplaces not fueled by either natural gas or propane are required to be registered Open burning is prohibited between April 15th and October 15th in any given year. Charcoal, pellet, natural gas or propane gas fires contained within barbecues or other approved Maintain a clearance of 4 meters (13 feet) from any structure no larger in area than 1-meter x 1- meter (3 feet x 3 feet) fully extinguished by 11:00 p.m. every evening. |
|---|---|
| Burning yard waste | Burning yard debris (leaves, grass clippings, cuttings from pruning shrubs and trees), garbage, construction waste and noxious materials is strictly prohibited. Only land-clearing debris (cut and piled brush, slash, grass and other organic material from clearing land) may be burned, under a permit, between October 15 and April 15, in daylight only, at least 4.6 m (15 ft) from buildings, with piles no more than 5 m across and 3 m high.Open Fire Regulation Bylaw No. 718, 2019, s. 2.6; Open Fire Regulation Bylaw No. 718, 2019, s. 1.1 "Yard Debris"; Open Fire Regulation Bylaw No. 718, 2019, s. 3.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingBurning of construction waste, garbage, noxious materials and yard debris is strictly prohibited in the open air leaves, grass clippings and cuttings resulting from the pruning of shrubs and trees. burning of land clearing debris may only occur between October 15th and April 15th burn piles of land clearing debris shall not exceed 5 metres in diameter or 3 metres in height. burning must be done during daylight hours only. |
| Permit | Yes. No one may start or maintain an open fire without a permit from the Village; backyard campfires are registered instead. Permits and registrations are issued or revoked only by the Fire Chief or the Chief Administrative Officer (land-clearing permits by the Fire Chief or another authorized person). A land-clearing permit is valid for a maximum of three days.Open Fire Regulation Bylaw No. 718, 2019, s. 2.2; Open Fire Regulation Bylaw No. 718, 2019, s. 2.4; Open Fire Regulation Bylaw No. 718, 2019, s. 5.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingno person shall start or maintain an open fire, or cause unless the fire is allowed under a permit issued by the Village of Gold River. Schedule C permits may only be issued/revoked by either the Village of Gold River Fire Chief or the Chief Administrative Officer. shall be valid for a maximum of three (3) days |
| Fire bans | None set. The bylaw does not describe a fire-ban process.Read: Open Fire Regulation Bylaw No. 718, 2019 |
| Instead of burning | Yard debris, garbage and construction waste must be taken to the Public Works Depot-Transfer Station (Drop Off Depot). Yard waste up to 8 inches in diameter is accepted at $65 a tonne.Open Fire Regulation Bylaw No. 718, 2019, s. 2.7; 2024 Garbage and Recycling brochure, 2024 brochure · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingConstruction waste, garbage, noxious materials and yard debris must be deposited at the Public Works Depot-Transfer Station. Yard Waste – up to 8” diameter accepted $65.00 / tonne |
| Fine | Not confirmed. The ticket bylaws are scanned PDFs that could not be read. |
| Bylaw | Open Fire Regulation Bylaw No. 718, 2019 (amended by Bylaws No. 718.1, 2021 and 718.2, 2022)Open Fire Regulation Bylaw No. 718, 2019, Title; Bylaws Archives - Village of Gold River, Bylaw library · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingOpen Fire Regulation Bylaw No. 718, 2019 Bylaw No 718.1, 2021 Open Fire Regulation Amendment Bylaw No 718.2, 2022 – Open Fire Regulation Amendment |
How it works
The Open Fire Regulation Bylaw No. 718, 2019 says no one may start or maintain an open fire without a permit from the Village. Backyard campfires are registered instead. Permits and registrations are issued or revoked only by the Fire Chief or the Chief Administrative Officer (land-clearing permits by the Fire Chief or another authorized person).
Good to know
- Backyard campfires, fire pits, chimineas and outdoor fireplaces not fuelled by natural gas or propane must be registered and follow Schedule C. Open burning is prohibited April 15 to October 15.
- Schedule C: 4 metres (13 feet) clear of structures, 2 metres (6.5 feet) from shrubbery and wooden fences, base no larger than 1 metre by 1 metre (3 feet by 3 feet), extinguishing equipment such as a charged hose at hand, constant supervision by a resident over 16, and fully out by 11:00 p.m.
- Gas or propane appliances, and charcoal or pellet fires in barbecues or other approved appliances, are exempt from the ban and the permit.
- Yard debris (leaves, grass clippings, cuttings from pruning shrubs and trees), garbage, construction waste and noxious materials may not be burned at all.
- Land-clearing debris (cut and piled brush, slash, grass and other organic material from clearing land) may be burned under a permit between October 15 and April 15, in daylight only, at least 4.6 metres (15 feet) from buildings, with piles no more than 5 metres across and 3 metres high.
- Take yard debris, garbage and construction waste to the Drop Off Depot. Yard waste up to 8 inches in diameter is accepted at $65 a tonne.
- The bylaw does not describe a fire-ban process, but the Fire Chief can withhold, suspend or cancel a permit or order a fire out. The latest amendment (2022) could not be read, so confirm current rules with the Village at (250) 283-2202.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Tahsis · Campbell River · Tofino · Sayward · Cumberland · Courtenay
Backyard fire and burning rules in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Open Fire Regulation Bylaw No. 718, 2019 (PDF), Village of Gold River (read 2026-11-08)
- 2024 Garbage and Recycling brochure (PDF), Village of Gold River (read 2026-11-08)
- Trade Waste and Garbage Amendment Bylaw No. 612.16, 2025 (PDF), Village of Gold River (read 2026-11-08)
- Bylaws Archives - Village of Gold River (read 2026-11-08)
Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 5 of 7 facts was matched to the official text; 1 is recorded as not set; 1 could not be confirmed. How answers are checked.