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

# Greenwood backyard fire and burning rules

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

**Short answer:** To burn yard waste in the City of Greenwood you request a Permit to Burn from the City, for 1 to 7 days. We could not find a City fire bylaw, so rules for campfires and fire pits are not stated; ask City Hall at 250-445-6644.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Greenwood, https://www.greenwoodcity.com)  
**Cost:** The Permit to Burn form does not state a fee.  
**How long:** The permit form offers 1 to 7 days, running from the date of issue.  
**Where:**
- Online: Permit to Burn form, https://forms.greenwoodcity.com/PERMIT-TO-BURN
- Phone: City Hall, 250-445-6644
- Phone: Greenwood Volunteer Fire Department, non-emergency, 250-445-2222
- Phone: Report a wildfire, 1-800-663-5555 or *5555 on a cell phone

## Key facts

- **Backyard campfires:** Not confirmed. The City does not state a rule for campfires or fire pits.
- **Burning yard waste:** The City issues a Permit to Burn for yard waste: permission runs from the date of issue; no fires on windy days; the applicant must stay in constant attendance.
  - Source: [Permit to Burn, Permit to Burn form](https://forms.greenwoodcity.com/PERMIT-TO-BURN)
  - Official wording: "Permission to burn yard waste from the date of issue. No Fires shall be kindled on windy days. Applicant must undertake to oversee any fire kindled under this permit and remain in constant attendance."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Permit:** A Permit to Burn is requested through the City's online form, for 1 to 7 days. No fee is stated.
  - Source: [Permit to Burn, Permit to Burn form](https://forms.greenwoodcity.com/PERMIT-TO-BURN)
  - Official wording: "Date Email Address Phone Number Address Length to Burn 1 Day 2 Days 3 Days 4 Days" … "3 Days 4 Days 5 Days 6 Days 7 Days Please enter your signature. Clear Submit"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fire bans:** Municipalities usually set their own open fire prohibitions, which may follow or differ from BC Wildfire Service ones; BCWS orders usually cover areas outside municipalities. Check with the City (250-445-6644) and the BCWS fire bans page.
  - Source: [Fire Prohibitions and Restrictions, Province of BC, Fire Prohibitions page](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/wildfire-status/prevention/fire-bans-and-restrictions)
  - Official wording: "BCWS open fire prohibitions and equipment/activity prohibitions apply to public and private land within the area defined in the order, which is usually all areas outside of municipalities." … "always check with local government authorities for any other open fire restrictions." … "Municipalities typically implement their own open fire prohibitions that may follow or vary from BCWS prohibitions." … "which is usually all areas outside of municipalities."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Instead of burning:** Residents can use regional (RDKB) facilities for yard waste. Green bin organics collection does not accept yard waste.
  - Source: [Public Works, Public Works, Recycling and Waste Disposal](https://www.greenwoodcity.com/services/public-works/)
  - Official wording: "Residents can access regional facilities for recyclables, yard waste, and other items."
  - Source: [Garbage and Recycling, Garbage and Recycling, Organics](https://www.greenwoodcity.com/services/garbage-and-recycling/)
  - Official wording: "Not Accepted: Plastics (even “compostable”), pet waste, diapers, or yard waste."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** The Permit to Burn form warns that violating the regulations could cost $1,150 under BC Wildfire Service rules. No City ticket amount found.
  - Source: [Permit to Burn, Permit to Burn form](https://forms.greenwoodcity.com/PERMIT-TO-BURN)
  - Official wording: "Violating these regulations could cost you $1,150, as per the British Columbia BC Wildfire Service."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Not confirmed. No City fire or burning bylaw was found.

## How it works

For yard waste, the City of Greenwood issues a Permit to Burn through its [online form](https://forms.greenwoodcity.com/PERMIT-TO-BURN). You choose 1 to 7 days. Permission runs from the date of issue, no fires are allowed on windy days, and you must stay in constant attendance. The form states no fee.

We could not find a City fire or burning bylaw, so where and when burning is allowed, and any rule for campfires or fire pits, is not stated. Ask City Hall.

## Steps

1. Call City Hall at 250-445-6644 to confirm burning is allowed at your address.
2. Request a Permit to Burn using the online form.
3. Stay with the fire until it is out.

## Good to know

- Open fire bans: municipalities usually set their own, which may follow or differ from BC Wildfire Service ones. BC Wildfire Service orders usually cover areas outside municipalities. Check with City Hall and the [BC Wildfire Service page](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/wildfire-status/prevention/fire-bans-and-restrictions) before lighting anything.
- The permit form warns that breaking the regulations could cost $1,150 under BC Wildfire Service rules. No City ticket amount is available to us.
- Instead of burning, residents can use regional (RDKB) facilities for yard waste. The green bin does not accept yard waste; see the yard waste answer.
- To report a wildfire, call 1-800-663-5555 or *5555 on a cell phone.

## Official forms and pages

- [Permit to Burn](https://forms.greenwoodcity.com/PERMIT-TO-BURN)
- [Fire Prohibitions and Restrictions, Province of BC](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/wildfire-status/prevention/fire-bans-and-restrictions)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Backyard fire and burning rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/backyard-fire.md)
- [Midway](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/midway/backyard-fire.md)
- [Grand Forks](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/grand-forks/backyard-fire.md)
- [Osoyoos](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/osoyoos/backyard-fire.md)
- [Rossland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/rossland/backyard-fire.md)
- [Oliver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/oliver/backyard-fire.md)
- [Warfield](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/warfield/backyard-fire.md)

## Sources

- [Permit to Burn, City of Greenwood](https://forms.greenwoodcity.com/PERMIT-TO-BURN) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Fire Prohibitions and Restrictions, Province of BC](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/wildfire-status/prevention/fire-bans-and-restrictions) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Garbage and Recycling, City of Greenwood](https://www.greenwoodcity.com/services/garbage-and-recycling/) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Public Works, City of Greenwood](https://www.greenwoodcity.com/services/public-works/) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Emergency Preparedness, City of Greenwood](https://www.greenwoodcity.com/services/emergency-info/emergency-preparedness/) (read 2026-11-05)

_Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 5 of 7 facts was matched to the official text; 2 could not be confirmed. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with City of Greenwood. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/greenwood/backyard-fire/_