Invermere backyard fire and burning rules
Can I have a backyard fire or burn yard waste in Invermere?
Short answer
In Invermere, a small campfire or outdoor fireplace needs no permit if it meets the Fire Prevention Bylaw's size and distance rules. Open burning needs a Special Burning Permit from the Fire Chief, not available for properties under 2 hectares. No fire is allowed in a fire ban.
Key facts
| Backyard campfires | Campfires (up to 0.5 m across and 0.5 m high) and commercially made outdoor fireplaces need no permit if they are at least 5 m from buildings, sheds, shrubs, grassy fields and the property line, burn seasoned wood, charcoal briquettes, propane or natural gas for cooking, heat or light, and are kept from growing or escaping.Fire Prevention Bylaw No. 1420, 2010, s. 4.1.8(c); Fire Prevention Bylaw No. 1420, 2010, s. 2.3 definition · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingCampfires and Outdoor Fireplaces using fuel of seasoned wood charcoal briquettes, propane or natural gas, being used for the purpose of cooking, providing heat or providing light Campfires and Outdoor Fireplaces are situated not less than 5 meters (15 feet) from any combustibles Campfire - means a contained outdoor fire, not exceeding 0.5 meter in diameter (1.6 ft.) and 0.5 meter (1.6 ft.) in height. |
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| Burning yard waste | Open fires are banned unless the Fire Chief issues a Special Burning Permit (urban interface clearing, agricultural pruning and land clearing, fire-hazard removal, special public functions); none for properties under 2 hectares except special public functions. Campfires meeting s. 4.1.8(c) and farm-business burning (s. 4.1.10) are exempt. Tires, plastics, treated lumber and domestic waste may not be burned.Fire Prevention Bylaw No. 1420, 2010, s. 4.1.1 to 4.1.4; Fire Prevention Bylaw No. 1420, 2010, s. 4.1.2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingno person may light, ignite or allow or cause to be lit or started a fire of any kind in the open air. a “Special Burning Permit” will not be issued for properties less than 2 hectares (5 acres) in size. the Fire Chief may issue a Special Burning Permit will not be issued for properties less than 2 hectares (5 acres) in size. does not apply to burning by a farm business on the lands accumulated from urban interface clearing; |
| Permit | A Special Burning Permit from the Fire Chief, only for the listed purposes and not for properties under 2 hectares (5 acres) except special public functions. Fee not stated.Fire Prevention Bylaw No. 1420, 2010, s. 4.1.2 and 4.1.3 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingthe Fire Chief may issue a Special Burning Permit will not be issued for properties less than 2 hectares (5 acres) in size. |
| Fire bans | No one may start a fire when wind and weather make it likely to be hazardous or when banned under Provincial regulation. The Fire Chief may ban or order out any burning considered hazardous. Check bcwildfire.ca for current bans.Fire Prevention Bylaw No. 1420, 2010, s. 4.1.6 and 4.1.9; Category 2 and Category 3 burning to be restricted (2021), District notice, June 24, 2021 (dated) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingNo person may start a fire if wind and weather are such that to do so is likely to be Hazardous or when banned under Provincial regulation. The Fire Chief may take any action to ban, extinguish or require extinguishment of any burning For the latest information on current wildfire activity, burning restrictions, road closures and air quality advisories, go to: bcwildfire.ca |
| Instead of burning | Yard waste goes in the curbside green organics cart (small branches and pruning up to 30 cm long and 2 cm thick) or to the RDEK Columbia Valley Landfill yard and garden waste area.Waste Management Bylaw No. 1671, 2025, Schedule D; Columbia Valley Landfill, Regional District of East Kootenay, Columbia Valley Landfill page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingsmall branches, twigs and pruning (no larger than 30cm in length and 2cm in diameter) You'll see another area for yard and garden waste |
| Fine | Municipal ticket: $100 for burning without a Special Burning Permit; $250 for letting a fire extend beyond its perimeter.Ticket Information Utilization Amendment Bylaw No. 1436, 2011, Schedule S · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingFailure to obtain Special 4.1.2 $100 Burning Permit Permitting fire to extend 4.1.8(2) $250 beyond confines of fire perimeter |
| Bylaw | Fire Prevention Bylaw Number 1420, 2010Fire Prevention Bylaw No. 1420, 2010, s. 1.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingDistrict of Invermere - Fire Prevention Bylaw Number 1420, 2010 |
How it works
In Invermere, the Fire Prevention Bylaw No. 1420 allows a campfire (up to 0.5 m across and 0.5 m high) or a commercially made outdoor fireplace without a permit, if it is at least 5 m from buildings, sheds, shrubs, grassy fields and the property line. It must burn seasoned wood, charcoal briquettes, or propane or natural gas for cooking, heat or light, and be kept from growing or escaping. Other open fires are banned unless the Fire Chief issues a Special Burning Permit.
Steps
- For a campfire or outdoor fireplace, check there is no fire ban and keep to the size and distance rules above.
- For anything bigger, call Invermere Fire Rescue (non-emergency) at 250-342-3200 to ask about a Special Burning Permit. No fee is stated.
- Check bcwildfire.ca for current provincial bans.
Good to know
- Permits are for urban interface clearing, agricultural pruning and land clearing, fire-hazard removal, or special public functions. None is issued for properties under 2 hectares (5 acres) except for special public functions. Burning ordinary yard waste on a small lot is not a permit purpose.
- Tires, plastics, treated lumber and domestic waste may not be burned.
- No one may start a fire when wind and weather make it likely to be hazardous or when banned under provincial regulation. The Fire Chief may ban or order out any burning considered hazardous.
- Yard waste goes in the curbside green organics cart or to the Regional District of East Kootenay's Columbia Valley Landfill yard and garden waste area.
- Burning without a permit can bring a $100 municipal ticket; letting a fire extend beyond its perimeter, $250 (Bylaw No. 1436, 2011). On prosecution the fire bylaw sets a fine of $2,500 to $10,000, and each day is a separate offence.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Radium Hot Springs · Canal Flats · Kaslo · Elkford · Kimberley · Cranbrook
Backyard fire and burning rules in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Fire Prevention Bylaw No. 1420, 2010 (PDF), District of Invermere (read 2026-11-08)
- Ticket Information Utilization Amendment Bylaw No. 1436, 2011 (PDF), District of Invermere (read 2026-11-08)
- Category 2 and Category 3 burning to be restricted (2021), District of Invermere (read 2026-11-08)
- Columbia Valley Landfill, Regional District of East Kootenay (read 2026-11-08)
- Waste Management Bylaw No. 1671, 2025 (PDF), District of Invermere (read 2026-11-08)
- Fire Department, District of Invermere (read 2026-11-08)
Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 7 of 7 facts was matched to the official text. How answers are checked.