{"title":"Kelowna backyard fire and burning rules","question":"Can I have a backyard fire or burn yard waste in Kelowna?","slug":"backyard-fire","place":{"path":"ca/bc/kelowna","name":"Kelowna","region":{"code":"bc","name":"British Columbia"},"country":{"code":"ca","name":"Canada"}},"category":{"slug":"bylaws-and-complaints","name":"Bylaws, noise and complaints"},"owner":"municipal","owner_label":"Municipal","owner_body":{"name":"City of Kelowna","url":"https://www.kelowna.ca"},"short_answer":"Most wood-burning fire pits and campfires are prohibited in Kelowna. Yard-waste burning has a separate permit process. Check burn-day conditions before using a permit.","aliases":[],"cost":null,"how_long":null,"where":[{"type":"phone","label":"City Hall","value":"250-469-8500"}],"documents":[],"forms":[],"related":[{"slug":"yard-waste","title":"Kelowna yard waste collection and drop-off","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kelowna/yard-waste/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/west-kelowna","name":"West Kelowna","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-kelowna/backyard-fire/"},{"place":"ca/bc/lake-country","name":"Lake Country","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-country/backyard-fire/"},{"place":"ca/bc/peachland","name":"Peachland","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/peachland/backyard-fire/"},{"place":"ca/bc/coldstream","name":"Coldstream","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/coldstream/backyard-fire/"},{"place":"ca/bc/vernon","name":"Vernon","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vernon/backyard-fire/"},{"place":"ca/bc/summerland","name":"Summerland","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/summerland/backyard-fire/"}],"topic":{"title":"Backyard fire and burning rules in British Columbia, by municipality","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/backyard-fire/"},"facts":{"campfires":{"label":"Backyard campfires","value":"Most wood-burning fire pits and campfires are prohibited in Kelowna.","short":"No, most wood-burning pits prohibited","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.kelowna.ca/city-services/safety-emergency-services/fire-department/outdoor-burning?t=burning","title":"Outdoor burning","section":"Campfires","quotes":["Thinking about a campfire or fire pit? Know the rules, most fires and wood‑burning appliances aren’t allowed in Kelowna."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-09"}},"open_burning":{"label":"Burning yard waste","value":"Check permit eligibility and burn-day conditions before burning yard waste.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.kelowna.ca/city-services/safety-emergency-services/fire-department/outdoor-burning?t=burning","title":"Outdoor burning","section":"Open Burning","quotes":["Planning to burn yard waste? Know the rules, apply for an open burning permit and check burn day conditions before you start."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-09"}},"permit":{"label":"Permit","value":"A property larger than one hectare may qualify for a $20 open-burning permit. Check conditions each day before burning.","short":"Property over one hectare may qualify, $20","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.kelowna.ca/city-services/safety-emergency-services/fire-department/outdoor-burning?t=burning","title":"Outdoor burning","section":"Open burning permits and burn-day conditions","quotes":["## Get an open burning permit If your property is larger than 1 hectare (2.47 acres), you may qualify for an open burning permit. Burning without a permit or breaking permit conditions can result in fines of up to $2,000. Apply for a permit Apply through the Kelowna Fire Department: * Walk-in only: Fire Station 1, 2255 Enterprise Way * A $20 permit fee applies.","A permit is always required.","Even with a permit, you must check conditions every day you plan to burn."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-09"}},"fire_bans":{"label":"Fire bans","value":null,"status":"unknown","reason":"not_found","note":"Checked Outdoor burning, BL10760 - Fire and Life Safety Bylaw - consolidated; not found there.","sources":[]},"alternatives":{"label":"Instead of burning","value":"Kelowna households on the regional single-family route get yard-waste collection every other week from March through December.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.rdco.com/living-here/waste-and-recycling/yard-waste/","title":"Yard waste","section":"Yard waste","quotes":["The RDCO provides curbside cart collection for yard waste from single family dwellings in the the City of Kelowna, City of West Kelowna, District of Peachland, District of Lake Country and Electoral Area East. Yard waste is collected every other week from March 1 to December 31."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-09"}},"fine":{"label":"Fine","value":"The City warns of fines up to $2,000 for burning without a permit or breaching its conditions.","short":"No ticket amount; up to $2,000","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.kelowna.ca/city-services/safety-emergency-services/fire-department/outdoor-burning?t=burning","title":"Outdoor burning","section":"Open burning permits","quotes":["## Get an open burning permit If your property is larger than 1 hectare (2.47 acres), you may qualify for an open burning permit. Burning without a permit or breaking permit conditions can result in fines of up to $2,000."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-09"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Fire and Life Safety Bylaw No. 10760.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://apps.kelowna.ca/CityPage/Docs/PDFs/Bylaws/Fire_and_Life_Safety_Bylaw_No.10760.pdf","title":"BL10760 - Fire  and Life Safety Bylaw - consolidated (PDF)","section":"Title and section 4.1.1(e), open-air fires","quotes":["BYLAW NO. 10760 REVISED: March 2, 2026 CONSOLIDATED FOR CONVENIENCE TO INCLUDE: BYLAW NO. 11116, 11747, 12414 & 12869 FIRE & LIFE SAFETY BYLAW WHEREAS the Community Charter S.B.C. 2003, c. 26, as amended from time to time, provides that a","4.1 Permit Required 4.1.1 Every person must obtain a permit issued by the Fire Chief or designate to do any of the following: a) installation and removal of gasoline, diesel or oil tanks or dispensing pumps; b) store flammable or combustible liquids in stationary or underground tanks; c) use open flames for display purposes; d) discharge, fire or set off any consumer fireworks or display fireworks as defined under Schedule “A”, attached to and forming part of this Bylaw; e) start or permit a fire of any kind whatsoever in the open air unless otherwise permitted within this Bylaw;"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-09"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":7,"stated":6,"matched":6,"none":0,"unknown":1},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nThe first question is what you intend to burn and why. A small fire for recreation, a cooking appliance and burning vegetation can fall under different provisions. Check the current restriction for the site and activity before lighting anything. A property larger than one hectare may qualify for a $20 open-burning permit. Check conditions each day before burning.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Check the local fire instructions in [Outdoor burning](https://www.kelowna.ca/city-services/safety-emergency-services/fire-department/outdoor-burning?t=burning). Identify the fuel, appliance or fire pit, property address and intended date. Match those details to the local fire rules.\n2. If the activity needs approval, check the conditions of the approval and the current fire restrictions on the day you intend to burn.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- Kelowna households on the regional single-family route get yard-waste collection every other week from March through December.\n- Glenmore Landfill accepts grass, leaves, flowers and hedge clippings. Its yard-waste rate covers tree prunings less than 5 cm in circumference.\n- For pruning or garden cleanup, look up local yard-waste disposal options before accumulating a pile for burning.\n- For a question about the current fire restriction and the type of fire you have in mind, call City Hall at 250-469-8500. Describe the appliance or fuel and whether the location is private property or a public site.\n- Read the applicable provisions in [BL10760 - Fire  and Life Safety Bylaw - consolidated (PDF)](https://apps.kelowna.ca/CityPage/Docs/PDFs/Bylaws/Fire_and_Life_Safety_Bylaw_No.10760.pdf).","sources":[{"url":"https://www.kelowna.ca/city-services/safety-emergency-services/fire-department/outdoor-burning?t=burning","title":"Outdoor burning","accessed":"2026-11-09"},{"url":"https://www.rdco.com/living-here/waste-and-recycling/yard-waste/","title":"Yard waste","accessed":"2026-11-09"},{"url":"https://www.kelowna.ca/parks-recreation/recreation-facilities/city-hall","title":"Kelowna municipal office contact information","accessed":"2026-11-09"},{"url":"https://www.kelowna.ca/city-services/waste/glenmore-landfill/accepted-products-tipping-fees","title":"Glenmore Landfill accepted products and tipping fees","accessed":"2026-11-09"},{"url":"https://apps.kelowna.ca/CityPage/Docs/PDFs/Bylaws/Fire_and_Life_Safety_Bylaw_No.10760.pdf","title":"BL10760 - Fire  and Life Safety Bylaw - consolidated (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-09"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-09","review":{"status":"machine_checked","badge":"Checked against official text","label":"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."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kelowna/backyard-fire/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kelowna/backyard-fire.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kelowna/backyard-fire.json"}}