Hope backyard fire and burning rules

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

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

Short answer

In Hope, dry garden and yard refuse may be burned without a permit only during a two-week period each Spring and Fall set by Council. Small firepits for warmth or cooking, built to the bylaw's diagram, need no permit. A $200 permit is only for lot clearing and commercial or industrial cleanup.

Key facts

Backyard campfires	Small firepits used for warmth or cooking, burning seasoned wood and built as shown in the bylaw's Schedule G diagram, need no permit. Barbecues and other propane, natural gas or charcoal cookers are also exempt. The Fire Chief can still prohibit any outdoor fire.Volunteer Fire Department Establishment, and Fire and Safety Regulations Bylaw No. 1006, 1998, s. 404(1); Volunteer Fire Department Establishment, and Fire and Safety Regulations Bylaw No. 1006, 1998, s. 401(1) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording small firepits used for warmth or the preparation of food using seasoned wood fuel and described in Schedule “G” attached to and forming part of this Bylaw. The Fire Chief may prohibit any or all types of outdoor fires
Burning yard waste	Dry garden and yard refuse (small prunings, vegetable garden refuse) may be burned only during a two-week period each Spring and Fall set by Council, dawn to dusk, on private property, with no permit. Pile no larger than 1 m by 1 m and 1.5 m high; at least 4 m from any log, stump or standing tree; at least 15 m from slash, flammable debris or any structure; attended by an adult; water and a shovel on hand. No tires, plastics, household garbage or anything giving heavy black smoke.Volunteer Fire Department Establishment, and Fire and Safety Regulations Bylaw No. 1006, 1998, s. 402(1); Volunteer Fire Department Establishment, and Fire and Safety Regulations Bylaw No. 1006, 1998, Schedule E, s. 2; Burning Permit, Before You Conduct Your Burn · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Open burning of dry garden and yard refuse is allowed for a two (2) week period in the Spring and Fall each year, with such burning periods to be established by the piles of materials to be burned shall not be larger than 1 meter by 1 meter and shall not be more than 1.5 meters high; the fire shall be not less than 4 meters from any log, stumps, snag or standing the fire shall be at least 15 meters from any slash, other flammable debris or Will the fire be at least 15 metres from any structure?
Permit	A $200 permit valid for 72 hours is required for lot-clearing burns for development and for yard cleanup in commercial or industrial areas, with at least 15 days smoke-free between burns on the same property. The District's page says to get a burn registration number from the Province, apply to the District and pay $200 on approval, check that the Venting Index is Good, and notify the Fire Department before lighting. No permit is needed for the Spring and Fall residential period.Volunteer Fire Department Establishment, and Fire and Safety Regulations Bylaw No. 1006, 1998, s. 403(1); Burning Permit, Summary of Burning Permit Process; Volunteer Fire Department Establishment, and Fire and Safety Regulations Bylaw No. 1006, 1998, s. 402(1) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Burning for lot clearing for development, and burning for the purpose of yard clean up A fee of $200.00 is to be paid to the District for each permit issued. shall be a smoke free period of at least 15 days between burns on the same property. Burning permits cost $200 and are valid for 72 hours. Obtain a burn registration number from the Province of British Columbia. Notify the Fire Department before ignition. Permits for this type of residential burning are not required.
Fire bans	The Fire Chief may prohibit any or all outdoor fires when conditions make them a hazard or nuisance (call the Fire Department, 604-869-5671). Provincial BC Wildfire Service orders usually do not apply inside municipal boundaries; the Venting Index must be Good for permit burns.Volunteer Fire Department Establishment, and Fire and Safety Regulations Bylaw No. 1006, 1998, s. 401(1); Burning Permit, Burn Day Checklist; Fire bans and restrictions, BC Wildfire Service, Where BC Wildfire Service orders apply · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording The Fire Chief may prohibit any or all types of outdoor fires when, in his opinion, Check Venting Index – must be rated “Good” Typically, BCWS open fire prohibition and equipment/activity prohibition orders will specify that they do not apply within municipal boundaries, with certain exceptions.
Instead of burning	Yard waste (grass, leaves, branches, small tree trimmings) goes in the organics cart collected at the curb. Larger material can go to the District Transfer Station (green waste $85 per 1,000 kg, minimum fee $12.50).Waste Management, Frequently Asked Questions; Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 1363, 2015, Schedule L, Transfer Station - Self Haul · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Yard waste, including grass clippings, leaves, weeds, flowers, bark mulch, branches, and small tree trimmings. Minimum Fee for all Waste Categories $12.50 $85.00/1,000 kg
Fine	Bylaw notice: $500 ($400 if paid within 14 days; $100 surcharge after 28 days). Municipal ticket: $1,000. In court, $100 to $2,000 per offence.Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1627, 2026, Schedule A (BNE Bylaw No. 1627, 2026); Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 1628, 2026, Schedule A (MTI Bylaw No. 1628, 2026); Volunteer Fire Department Establishment, and Fire and Safety Regulations Bylaw No. 1006, 1998, s. 801(2) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording District of Hope Volunteer Fire Department Establishment, and Fire and Safety Regulations $500.00 $400.00 $100.00 Yes District of Hope Volunteer Fire Department Establishment, and Fire and Safety Regulations Bylaw not less than one hundred dollars ($100.00) and not more than two thousand dollars ($2,000.00) for each infraction or offense
Bylaw	District of Hope Volunteer Fire Department Establishment, and Fire and Safety Regulations Bylaw No. 1006, 1998 (the District's burning permit page calls it the Fire Services Bylaw)Volunteer Fire Department Establishment, and Fire and Safety Regulations Bylaw No. 1006, 1998, Title page; Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1627, 2026, Schedule A (BNE Bylaw No. 1627, 2026) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording BYLAW No. 1006, 1998 District of Hope Volunteer Fire Department Establishment, and Fire and Safety Regulations $500.00 $400.00 $100.00 Yes

How it works

In Hope, the Fire and Safety Regulations Bylaw No. 1006 (the District's burning permit page calls it the Fire Services Bylaw) allows three things without a permit:

Small firepits for warmth or cooking, burning seasoned wood and built as shown in the bylaw's Schedule G diagram. Schedule G is a drawing with no text, so the size limits could not be read. Barbecues and propane, natural gas or charcoal cookers are also exempt.
Dry garden and yard refuse (small prunings, vegetable garden refuse) during a two-week period each Spring and Fall, set by Council. Burn from dawn to dusk on private property.
A $200 permit (valid 72 hours) is required only for lot-clearing burns for development and for yard cleanup in commercial or industrial areas. There must be at least 15 days smoke-free between burns on the same property.

Steps

Spring and Fall burn rules: pile no larger than 1 m by 1 m and 1.5 m high; at least 4 m from any log, stump or standing tree; at least 15 m from slash, flammable debris or any structure. An adult must attend, with water and a shovel on hand. No tires, plastics, household garbage or anything giving heavy black smoke.
For a $200 permit: get a burn registration number from the Province, apply to the District through its Application Packages page, and pay $200 on approval. The Venting Index must be Good. Notify the Fire Department before lighting.
Questions: Fire Department, 604-869-5671, fire@hope.ca.

Good to know

The dates change each year and are advertised. Ask the Fire Department for the current period.
The Fire Chief can prohibit any or all outdoor fires when conditions make them a hazard or nuisance. The District's pages do not name a place to check for a current ban, so call the Fire Department. Provincial BC Wildfire Service orders usually do not apply inside municipal boundaries.
Instead of burning, yard waste goes in the organics cart. Larger material can go to the District Transfer Station (green waste $85 per 1,000 kg, minimum fee $12.50).
A bylaw notice is $500 ($400 if paid within 14 days); a municipal ticket is $1,000. In court, $100 to $2,000 per offence.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Kent · Harrison Hot Springs · Chilliwack · Princeton · Abbotsford · Mission

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

Sources

Burning Permit, District of Hope (read 2026-11-06)
Volunteer Fire Department Establishment, and Fire and Safety Regulations Bylaw No. 1006, 1998 (PDF), District of Hope (read 2026-11-06)
Permits, Licences & Applications, District of Hope (read 2026-11-06)
Waste Management, District of Hope (read 2026-11-06)
Fire bans and restrictions, BC Wildfire Service (read 2026-11-06)
Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 1363, 2015, District of Hope (read 2026-11-06)
Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1627, 2026 (PDF), District of Hope (read 2026-11-06)
Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 1628, 2026 (PDF), District of Hope (read 2026-11-06)

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