Kent backyard fire and burning rules

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

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

Short answer

In Kent, there is no open burning in the Agassiz townsite or Harrison Highlands. Elsewhere you need an annual burning permit from the District: $25 for a campfire, $60 for a yard clean-up pile, $150 for land clearing. No burning from the third week of May to September 30.

Key facts

Backyard campfires	No open burning in the Agassiz townsite or Harrison Highlands. Elsewhere a campfire needs an annual burning permit ($25) and may be no larger than 0.5 m x 0.5 m (19 inches). No burning in the Close Season (May 16 to September 30 per the District page). Gas, propane or charcoal cooking barbecues need no permit.Sources differ: Bylaw 1448 is a 2015 consolidation. The bylaw names the Agassiz townsite; the web page also names Harrison Highlands.Burning Permits; District of Kent Fire Prevention and Protection Regulation Bylaw No. 1448, 2009 (consolidated 2015), s. 3(2), 3(3)(e); District of Kent Fire Prevention and Protection Regulation Bylaw No. 1448, 2009 (consolidated 2015), s. 3(4) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording no open burning is permitted in the Agassiz townsite and Harrison Highlands Subdivision Campfire $25 - not more than 0.5m x 0.5m (19" x 19"). No burning is permitted from May 16 to September 30 Outdoor burning is not permitted in the Agassiz townsite. A permit is required for camp fires outside the Agassiz townsite boundaries A permit is not required under this Bylaw for a barbecue using natural gas/propane or charcoal used in the cooking of food.
Burning yard waste	Only outside the Agassiz townsite and Harrison Highlands, with a permit. No burning in the Close Season: from the third week of May (bylaw) or May 16 (District page) to September 30. Yard clean-up piles: $60, up to 2.5 m x 2.5 m. Land clearing: $150, up to 6 m x 6 m. Never burn plastics, treated wood or garbage.Sources differ: Bylaw s. 3(1)(b) sets the Close Season as 'the third week of May' to the last day of September; the web page says May 16. Also no burning in winds over 50 km/h (s. 8(e)) and the ventilation index must allow burning.Burning Permits; District of Kent Fire Prevention and Protection Regulation Bylaw No. 1448, 2009 (consolidated 2015), ss. 3(1)(e), (f), 8 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording No burning is permitted from May 16 to September 30 Yard Waste Clean Up $60 - larger than camp fire but not more than 2.5m x 2.5m (8' x 8') Land Clearing $150 - larger than 2.5m x 2.5m not more than 6m x 6m No person shall burn material brought from another location. shall not start or kindle a fire within 10 metres of any building shall not start or kindle a fire within 30 metres of any public roadway shall not start or kindle a fire within 10 metres of any stream not leave the fire unattended No person shall between the third week of May and the last day of September (such period to be known as the Close Season) in any year,
Permit	Yes. An annual burning permit from the District of Kent (apply online); do not burn until it is paid and issued. Fees: campfire $25, yard waste clean-up $60, land clearing $150. A property owner consent form is needed if you are not the owner.Burning Permits; District of Kent Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 1717 (consolidated), Schedule B, Bylaw 1448 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording All open burns in the District require an annual burning permit. *You may only begin burning once you have paid your permit fee and received your permit. Property owner burning permit consent form Permit Fee for a Camp Fire or Cooking Fire $ 25.00 Permit Fee for Industrial and Land Clearing Purposes
Fire bans	A Close Season runs from the third week of May to September 30 under the bylaw (District page: May 16 to September 30), and the Local Assistant to the Fire Commissioner can extend it. No burning during a municipal or Ministry of Forests ban. Call the Ventilation Index (1-888-281-2992) before burning.Sources differ: No page on kentbc.ca stating the current ban status was found; the Ventilation Index link is on the burning permits page.Burning Permits; District of Kent Fire Prevention and Protection Regulation Bylaw No. 1448, 2009 (consolidated 2015), ss. 3(1)(c), 3(3)(g), 8(i) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording No burning is permitted from May 16 to September 30 Check the Ventilation Index. may extend the Close Season established by this Bylaw Prior to burning you must call the British Columbia Ministry of Environment Ventilation Index at 1-888-281-2992. not burn when there is a municipal or Ministry of Forest burning ban in effect extend the Close Season established by this Bylaw and shall in such case
Instead of burning	Yard waste can be dropped off year-round in the District's Green Waste Bin at the Agassiz Recycling & Bottle Depot, 7689 Industrial Way, Agassiz.Garbage, Recycling and Composting, Compost Materials · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Yard waste can be dropped off year-round in the District's Green Waste Bin located at Agassiz Recycling & Bottle Depot - 7689 Industrial Way, Agassiz
Fine	Not confirmed. No ticket amount is posted.
Bylaw	Fire Prevention and Protection Regulation Bylaw No. 1448, 2009District of Kent Fire Prevention and Protection Regulation Bylaw No. 1448, 2009 (consolidated 2015), Title · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Fire Prevention and Protection Regulation Bylaw No. 1448, 2009

How it works

Burning in Kent is governed by the Fire Prevention and Protection Regulation Bylaw 1448 and the District's burning permits page. There is no open burning in the Agassiz townsite or Harrison Highlands. Elsewhere you need an annual burning permit from the District, applied for online. If you are not the property owner, a property owner consent form is needed.

Rules

Campfire: $25, no larger than 0.5 m x 0.5 m (19 inches).
Yard clean-up pile: $60, up to 2.5 m x 2.5 m.
Land clearing: $150, up to 6 m x 6 m.
Never burn plastics, treated wood or garbage.
Gas, propane or charcoal cooking barbecues need no permit.

Good to know

Close Season: no burning from the third week of May (bylaw) to September 30. The District's page gives May 16 as the start, so confirm the date with the District. The Local Assistant to the Fire Commissioner can extend it.
No burning during a municipal or Ministry of Forests ban, or in winds over 50 km/h. Call the Ventilation Index at 1-888-281-2992 before burning. No page stating the current ban status was found.
Small ceremonial or religious fires: the fee is waived but registration is needed.
Yard waste can instead go year-round to the District's Green Waste Bin at the Agassiz Recycling & Bottle Depot, 7689 Industrial Way.
Bylaw 1448 sets a fine up to the Offence Act maximum. No ticket amount is posted.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Harrison Hot Springs · Chilliwack · Hope · Abbotsford · Mission · Maple Ridge

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

Sources

District of Kent Fire Prevention and Protection Regulation Bylaw No. 1448, 2009 (consolidated 2015) (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)
District of Kent Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 1717 (consolidated) (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)
Burning Permits, District of Kent (read 2026-11-06)
Garbage, Recycling and Composting, District of Kent (read 2026-11-06)

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.