Houston backyard fire and burning rules
Can I have a backyard fire or burn yard waste in Houston?
Short answer
In Houston, recreational fires are allowed in a permanent fireplace, barbecue or fire pit up to 90 cm across, except during burning bans, provincial restrictions or an air quality advisory. Open burning is not allowed on lots under 1 hectare, and larger lots need a free Fire Chief permit.
Key facts
| Backyard campfires | Yes, in a permanent outdoor fireplace, barbecue or fire pit not larger than 90 cm across that is built to confine the fire. Not allowed during burning bans, provincial restrictions or an air quality advisory, or if smoke harms or unreasonably bothers others. No garbage or noxious material.Sources differ: Possible conflict: s. 3.7 says no person shall start "a fire of any kind whatsoever in the open air" without a written permit from the Fire Chief (except under s. 3.8), while the District's Fire Department page says recreational fires are allowed. The page is read here as the District's own reading of the bylaw; confirm with the Fire Department (250-845-2250).Fire Department, Open Burning, Recreational Fires; Open Burning & Air Quality Bylaw No. 947, 2006, consolidated, Part 1 definitions; ss. 3.2, 3.4, 3.5 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingRecreational fires are allowed in outdoor fireplaces, barbecues, or fire pits not larger than 90 cm (35.5 inches) in diameter Recreational fires are not permitted during burning bans or prohibitions must comply with the District’s Open Burning Bylaw as well as provincial restrictions in effect not larger than 90 centimetres in diameter that is designed No person shall conduct open burning or ignite or maintain any recreational fire if an air quality advisory has been issued. |
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| Burning yard waste | Not allowed on lots under 1 hectare. On larger lots only with a Fire Chief special permit: 30 m from any building or forest, only prunings, dry piled debris, weeds, needles or leaves from the same lot, piles at most 5 m across and 3 m high, 7 a.m. to sunset, and only if the venting index is 55 or higher.Open Burning & Air Quality Bylaw No. 947, 2006, consolidated, Part 3, ss. 3.1, 3.8, 3.10; Fire Department, Open Burning · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingNo person shall conduct open burning on any lot less than 1 hectare in area within the allow open burning on lots greater than one a minimum separation of thirty (30) metres can be No pile of burning material shall exceed 5 meters in diameter or 3 meters in height. All burning shall be conducted and concluded between 7:00 a.m. (0700 hours) and sunset of the same day no burning shall take place unless the venting index is fifty-five (55) or greater when the fire is started Open burning may only be conducted with a permit issued by the Fire Department on lots which are larger than one hectare in area. |
| Permit | A written burning permit from the Fire Chief is required for open burning (lots over 1 hectare). Apply online on the District's Burning Permit Application form. No fee: the fee schedule lists the open burning permit at $0.Open Burning & Air Quality Bylaw No. 947, 2006, consolidated, Part 3, ss. 3.7, 3.8; Burning Permit Application; Comprehensive Fees & Charges Amending Bylaw No. 1182, 2023, Schedule A-2, Schedule A-2, 3. Open Burning - Bylaw No. 947 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingwithout first having obtained a written permit to do so from the Fire Chief. I understand that submitting this application does not constitute approval of a Burning Permit. a) Open Burning Permit per permit 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 |
| Fire bans | The Fire Chief may suspend, cancel or restrict permits in hazardous or adverse weather conditions. Recreational fires are not allowed during burning bans or provincial restrictions. Open burning and recreational fires are also banned during an air quality advisory. The District links to the Province's fire bans and restrictions page.Open Burning & Air Quality Bylaw No. 947, 2006, consolidated, Part 3, ss. 3.2, 3.13; Fire Department, Open Burning · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingWhere the Fire Chief considers that hazardous conditions or adverse weather conditions No person shall conduct open burning or ignite or maintain any recreational fire if an air quality advisory has been issued. Recreational fires are not permitted during burning bans or prohibitions and must comply with the District's Open Burning Bylaw as well as provincial restrictions in effect at the time. Fire Prohibitions and Restrictions |
| Instead of burning | Not confirmed. No yard waste drop-off was found on the District pages. |
| Fine | Court fine of not less than $50 and not more than $500 for each offence on summary conviction. The ticket schedules read do not list an open burning offence. A person who starts a fire without a valid permit also pays the cost of putting it out.Open Burning & Air Quality Bylaw No. 947, 2006, consolidated, Part 4, s. 4.1; s. 3.12 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingis liable, upon summary conviction, to a fine of not less than $50.00 and not more than $500.00 for each offence. shall be responsible for the costs of |
| Bylaw | Open Burning & Air Quality Bylaw No. 947, 2006 (consolidated 2011, with Amendment Bylaw No. 1006, 2011).Open Burning & Air Quality Bylaw No. 947, 2006, consolidated, title · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingA Bylaw to regulate open burning and enhance air quality within the District of Houston. |
How it works
The Open Burning & Air Quality Bylaw No. 947 and the District's Fire Department page set the rules.
Recreational fires are allowed only in a permanent outdoor fireplace, barbecue or fire pit not larger than 90 cm across that is built to confine the fire. They are not allowed during burning bans, provincial restrictions or an air quality advisory, or if smoke harms or unreasonably bothers others. No garbage or noxious material.
Open burning is not allowed on lots under 1 hectare. On larger lots it needs a Fire Chief permit and these conditions: 30 m from any building or forest, only prunings, dry piled debris, weeds, needles or leaves from the same lot, piles at most 5 m across and 3 m high, 7 a.m. to sunset, and only if the venting index is 55 or higher.
Steps (open burning permit)
- Apply on the online Burning Permit Application form.
- Before each burn, notify the Fire Department at 250-845-2250. Call 1-888-281-2992 for venting information.
Good to know
- Backyard incinerators are prohibited, and so is burning garbage or noxious material.
- The Fire Chief may suspend, cancel or restrict permits in hazardous weather. Check the current bans on the BC Wildfire Service page the District links to.
- The bylaw's wording requires a permit for any open-air fire, while the Fire Department page says recreational fires are allowed. Confirm with the Fire Department.
- The bylaw notice and municipal ticket schedules we read do not list an open burning offence.
- No yard waste drop-off was found on the District pages. See the yard-waste answer.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Telkwa · Smithers · Granisle · Burns Lake · Terrace · Kitimat
Backyard fire and burning rules in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Fire Department, District of Houston (read 2026-11-08)
- Open Burning & Air Quality Bylaw No. 947, 2006, consolidated (PDF), District of Houston (read 2026-11-08)
- Burning Permit Application, District of Houston (read 2026-11-08)
- Comprehensive Fees & Charges Amending Bylaw No. 1182, 2023, Schedule A-2 (PDF), District of Houston (read 2026-11-08)
Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 6 of 7 facts was matched to the official text; 1 could not be confirmed. How answers are checked.