---
title: Grand Forks backyard fire and burning rules
question: "Can I have a backyard fire or burn yard waste?"
place: Grand Forks, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/grand-forks
category: Bylaws, noise and complaints
owner: municipal
owner_body: City of Grand Forks
sources_read: 2026-11-05
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/grand-forks/backyard-fire/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/grand-forks/backyard-fire.json"
---

# Grand Forks backyard fire and burning rules

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

**Short answer:** In the City of Grand Forks, outdoor fires need a permit from the Fire Chief, and no burning is allowed during fire bans. A campfire may be no larger than 0.5 m. Bylaw 2120 allows burning only clean, dry natural vegetation, but the City's campfire page says burning garden waste is prohibited, so check first.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Grand Forks, https://www.grandforks.ca)  
**Cost:** No permit fee was found in the Fees and Charges Bylaw or on the City's pages.  
**Where:**
- Online: Apply for Campfire Permit, https://www.communityconnect.io/info/bc-grandforksfirerescue
- Phone: Fire/Rescue (non-emergency), 250-442-3612
- Email: Fire/Rescue, firehall@grandforks.ca

## Key facts

- **Backyard campfires:** Allowed only with a Fire Chief campfire permit: no larger than 0.5 m in length, width and height, inside a ring of concrete, rock or steel or on mineral soil, burning clean, dry, untreated wood, supervised at all times and fully extinguished. At least 5 m from property lines and buildings and 3 m from combustibles.
  - Source: [Grand Forks Fire and Life Safety Bylaw No. 2120, ss. 2.3, 28-29](https://www.grandforks.ca/wp-content/uploads/Bylaw2120Grand-Forks-Fire-and-Life-Safety-Bylaw-2.pdf)
  - Official wording: "“Campfire” means an Outdoor Fire no larger than 0.5 metres in length, width, and height" … "A Person shall ensure that Campfires are supervised at all times and are fully extinguished before being left unattended."
  - Source: [Campfire Permit, Conditions and Restrictions](https://www.grandforks.ca/campfire-permit/)
  - Official wording: "Fire must be fully contained inside a ring of concrete, rock, steel, or on the ground surrounded mineral soil" … "Fire must not be located within 5 meters (16 Feet) from adjoining property lines and buildings, or 3 meters (9 feet) from any combustibles"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Burning yard waste:** Bylaw 2120 allows outdoor burning only of clean, dry, natural vegetation, under a Fire Chief permit and never during fire bans. The City's campfire permit page says burning garden waste (grass, clippings, leaves, prunings) is prohibited. No page describes a permit for brush piles; ask the Fire Department. (Sources differ: Bylaw 2120 s. 26 permits burning 'natural vegetation' under a permit while the City's campfire page prohibits burning garden waste; the page is the stricter. No page read describes a permit for brush piles. The campfire page and a 2024 notice (campfire prohibition rescinded August 26, 2024) are dated or current-condition notices; check BC Wildfire Service for any bans in effect.)
  - Source: [Campfire Permit, Restrictions](https://www.grandforks.ca/campfire-permit/)
  - Official wording: "It is expressly prohibited to burn garden waste, including but not limited to, grass, hedge clippings, leaves, prunings, pine needles, etc., within the City boundaries."
  - Source: [Grand Forks Fire and Life Safety Bylaw No. 2120, ss. 25-27](https://www.grandforks.ca/wp-content/uploads/Bylaw2120Grand-Forks-Fire-and-Life-Safety-Bylaw-2.pdf)
  - Official wording: "A Person shall not ignite an Outdoor Fire unless authorized by permit issued by the Fire Chief" … "A Person conducting an Outdoor Fire shall ensure that only clean, dry, natural vegetation is burned." … "A Person shall not burn an Outdoor Fire during provincial or local fire bans."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Permit:** Yes. Outdoor fires need a permit from the Fire Chief, and campfire permits are renewed annually by a process the Fire Chief sets. The City's campfire page says the first permit lasts one day, the second three months and later ones six months. No fee found. (Sources differ: No permit fee found in the Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 1958 (consolidated through A20) or on the City pages. Bylaw 2120 s. 30 says campfire permits are renewed annually by a process the Fire Chief sets, which differs from the page's one-day, three-month and six-month terms.)
  - Source: [Grand Forks Fire and Life Safety Bylaw No. 2120, ss. 25, 30](https://www.grandforks.ca/wp-content/uploads/Bylaw2120Grand-Forks-Fire-and-Life-Safety-Bylaw-2.pdf)
  - Official wording: "A Person shall renew Campfire permits annually using the process determined by the Fire Chief." … "A Person shall not ignite an Outdoor Fire unless authorized by permit issued by the Fire Chief"
  - Source: [Campfire Permit, Permit Duration](https://www.grandforks.ca/campfire-permit/)
  - Official wording: "The first issued permit will be valid for one day" … "The second issued permit will be valid for a duration of three months" … "Any further issued permits will be valid for a duration of six months"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fire bans:** No burning during provincial or local fire bans, even with a permit. The venting index must be 55 or better (call 1-888-281-2992). Check BC Wildfire Service Southeast Fire Centre bans and restrictions on gov.bc.ca.
  - Source: [Campfire Permit, Conditions and Restrictions](https://www.grandforks.ca/campfire-permit/)
  - Official wording: "Burning is prohibited while a fire ban is in place even if a permit has been issued" … "The venting index must be 55 or better (good) during the time of the burn. Call 1-888-281-2992"
  - Source: [Public Services, Southeast Fire Centre notice](https://www.grandforks.ca/efs-public-services/)
  - Official wording: "Southeast Fire Centre bans and restrictions – Province of British Columbia (gov.bc.ca)"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Instead of burning:** Curbside yard waste collection runs nine times a year on dates set by the garbage collector: up to three cans, compostable paper bags or bundles, each up to 22 kg.
  - Source: [Residential Garbage Collection Regulation Bylaw No. 1798, s. 9](https://www.grandforks.ca/wp-content/uploads/Bylaw1798Residential-Garbage-Collection-Regulation-Bylaw-CONSOLIDATED.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Yard waste will be collected by the Garbage Collector nine times per year, on the dates specified by the Garbage Collector." … "to a maximum of three such containers, bags or bundles."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** No ticket amount is listed for burning without a permit under Bylaw 2120. The ticket schedule's $200 is for the older Fire and Life Safety Bylaw No. 1965 (s. 8.1), so it may not apply. The City's fire page says fines up to $2,000 or the cost of putting out the fire are possible.
  - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 2073, Schedule F](https://www.grandforks.ca/wp-content/uploads/Bylaw2073Municipal-Ticket-Information-Bylaw-CONSOLIDATED-2.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Burning without permit $200.00" … "CITY OF GRAND FORKS FIRE AND LIFE SAFETY BYLAW No. 1965, 2013"
  - Source: [Fire and Rescue, Campfire Permit section](https://www.grandforks.ca/fire-rescue/)
  - Official wording: "may be subject to fines up to $2,000 or be charged with the cost of putting out the fire by their fire service."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Grand Forks Fire and Life Safety Bylaw No. 2120.
  - Source: [Grand Forks Fire and Life Safety Bylaw No. 2120, s. 1](https://www.grandforks.ca/wp-content/uploads/Bylaw2120Grand-Forks-Fire-and-Life-Safety-Bylaw-2.pdf)
  - Official wording: "This bylaw may be cited as the “Grand Forks Fire and Life Safety Bylaw No. 2120”"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Under the [Fire and Life Safety Bylaw No. 2120](https://www.grandforks.ca/wp-content/uploads/Bylaw2120Grand-Forks-Fire-and-Life-Safety-Bylaw-2.pdf), outdoor fires need a permit from the Fire Chief, and burning is not allowed during provincial or local fire bans, even with a permit. A campfire permit allows a fire no larger than 0.5 m in length, width and height, inside a ring of concrete, rock or steel or on mineral soil. Burn only clean, dry, untreated wood, keep it supervised at all times, and fully extinguish it. Stay at least 5 m from property lines and buildings and 3 m from combustibles.

## Steps

1. Apply for a campfire permit through the City's Campfire Permit page.
2. Check for fire bans before each fire, using the BC Wildfire Service Southeast Fire Centre bans and restrictions page on gov.bc.ca.
3. The venting index must be 55 or better; call 1-888-281-2992.

## Good to know

- Burning yard waste: the bylaw allows outdoor burning only of clean, dry, natural vegetation, under a permit. The City's campfire page says burning garden waste (grass, clippings, leaves, prunings) is prohibited. The page is stricter; confirm with Fire/Rescue at 250-442-3612. No page describes a permit for brush piles.
- Permit length: the bylaw says campfire permits are renewed annually by a process the Fire Chief sets. The City's page says the first permit lasts one day, the second three months and later ones six months.
- Curbside yard waste collection runs nine times a year; see the yard waste answer.
- No ticket amount is listed for burning without a permit under Bylaw 2120. The City's fire page says fines up to $2,000 or the cost of putting out the fire are possible.

## Official forms and pages

- [Campfire Permit conditions, City of Grand Forks](https://www.grandforks.ca/campfire-permit/)
- [Fire and Life Safety Bylaw No. 2120 (PDF)](https://www.grandforks.ca/wp-content/uploads/Bylaw2120Grand-Forks-Fire-and-Life-Safety-Bylaw-2.pdf)

## Related questions

- [Grand Forks fireworks rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/grand-forks/fireworks.md)
- [Grand Forks yard waste collection and drop-off](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/grand-forks/yard-waste.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Backyard fire and burning rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/backyard-fire.md)
- [Greenwood](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/greenwood/backyard-fire.md)
- [Midway](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/midway/backyard-fire.md)
- [Rossland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/rossland/backyard-fire.md)
- [Warfield](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/warfield/backyard-fire.md)
- [Trail](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/trail/backyard-fire.md)
- [Montrose](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/montrose/backyard-fire.md)

## Sources

- [Grand Forks Fire and Life Safety Bylaw No. 2120 (PDF), City of Grand Forks](https://www.grandforks.ca/wp-content/uploads/Bylaw2120Grand-Forks-Fire-and-Life-Safety-Bylaw-2.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Campfire Permit, City of Grand Forks](https://www.grandforks.ca/campfire-permit/) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Fire and Rescue, City of Grand Forks](https://www.grandforks.ca/fire-rescue/) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Public Services, City of Grand Forks](https://www.grandforks.ca/efs-public-services/) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Residential Garbage Collection Regulation Bylaw No. 1798 (PDF), City of Grand Forks](https://www.grandforks.ca/wp-content/uploads/Bylaw1798Residential-Garbage-Collection-Regulation-Bylaw-CONSOLIDATED.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 2073, Schedule F (PDF), City of Grand Forks](https://www.grandforks.ca/wp-content/uploads/Bylaw2073Municipal-Ticket-Information-Bylaw-CONSOLIDATED-2.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)

_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 City of Grand Forks. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/grand-forks/backyard-fire/_