Keremeos backyard fire and burning rules
Can I have a backyard fire or burn yard waste in Keremeos?
Short answer
In Keremeos, small recreational campfires are allowed under the Fire Regulation Bylaw if they are no larger than 0.5 m across and 0.5 m high and kept 5 m from property lines and buildings. Open burning of yard waste is restricted, and burn barrels are banned.
Key facts
| Backyard campfires | Allowed if: no larger than 0.5 m across and 0.5 m high; at least 5 m from property lines and buildings; 3 m from combustibles; not between 12 a.m. and 6 a.m.; only seasoned firewood or similar permitted material; used for recreation, food or warmth; on property you own or have the owner's written permission to use. Gas, propane or briquette stoves are not campfires.Fire Regulation Bylaw No. 855, 2022, s. 6.2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingCampfire size shall not exceed 0.5 meters in diameter and 0.5 meters in Campfires must be located a minimum of 5 meters from adjoining property Campfires must be constructed 3 meters away from any combustibles. Campfires will not be permitted between 12 a.m. and 6 a.m. Campfires will not be permitted on property owned or rented without |
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| Burning yard waste | Open fires only with permitted burning materials from the same land. Prohibited materials list garden waste, leaves and green branches, but the bylaw also defines garden refuse (dried plant matter) and the permitted list is unreadable. Keep 30 m from buildings and roads. No open burning April 15 to October 15 unless the Fire Chief deems conditions safe. Burn barrels banned.Fire Regulation Bylaw No. 855, 2022, s. 3, 6.1, 6.4 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordinggarden waste, leaves, green branches, manure Only permitted burning materials will be burned; 30 metres will be maintained between the location of the fire and any No open burning between April 15 No person shall operate, install or construct any incinerator, or barrel Garden refuse means dried plant matter, such as leaves, stems, twigs and branches, that |
| Permit | Not confirmed. The readable bylaw mentions no burning permit or fee. |
| Fire bans | All fires are subject to local and provincial fire hazard restrictions and may be cancelled at any time by the authority having jurisdiction. The Village home page links to the BC Wildfire danger class and the BC Wildfire Service status page.Fire Regulation Bylaw No. 855, 2022, s. 6.4; Home, Home page, Quick Links · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingare subject to cancellation at any time by an authority having jurisdiction. Fire Danger Rating (Ashnola/Penticton) BC Wildfire Service |
| Instead of burning | RDOS curbside yard waste pick-up every two weeks on the regular garbage day, plus unlimited yard waste collection at least four times a year.Garbage and Recycling, Garbage & Recycling page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingYard Waste is picked up every two weeks on your regular garbage day. Unlimited yard waste collection will occur a minimum of four times per year in your Area. |
| Fine | $200 for burning prohibited materials, outside hours, unsupervised, creating a nuisance, within the required distances, outside the burning season or during a ban, or for a campfire contrary to the regulations.Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 803, 2013 (consolidated April 2026), Schedule 6 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingBurning materials not permitted Burning outside burning season Campfire contrary to regulations |
| Bylaw | Village of Keremeos Fire Regulation Bylaw No. 855, 2022Fire Regulation Bylaw No. 855, 2022, Title · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingFire Regulation Bylaw No. 855, 2022 |
How it works
The Fire Regulation Bylaw No. 855 allows a campfire if it is:
- no larger than 0.5 m across and 0.5 m high
- at least 5 m from property lines and buildings, and 3 m from combustibles
- not burning between 12 a.m. and 6 a.m.
- fuelled only with seasoned firewood or similar permitted material
- used for recreation, food or warmth, on property you own or have the owner's written permission to use
Gas, propane or briquette stoves are not campfires.
Open fires may use only permitted burning materials from the same land and must stay 30 m from buildings and roads. Open burning is not allowed April 15 to October 15 unless the Fire Chief deems conditions safe. Burn barrels are banned. The bylaw's permitted-materials list could not be read in full, so ask before burning yard waste.
Good to know
- All fires are subject to local and provincial fire hazard restrictions and may be cancelled at any time. Check the BC Wildfire danger class and status links on the Village home page before lighting a fire.
- The readable bylaw mentions no burning permit or fee, and the burning hours are not readable.
- Instead of burning, the RDOS curbside yard waste pick-up runs every two weeks on the regular garbage day, plus unlimited yard waste collection at least four times a year.
- Ticket: $200 for burning prohibited materials, outside hours, unsupervised, creating a nuisance, within the required distances, outside the burning season or during a ban, or for a campfire contrary to the regulations.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Oliver · Osoyoos · Penticton · Summerland · Princeton · Peachland
Backyard fire and burning rules in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Fire Regulation Bylaw No. 855, 2022 (PDF), Village of Keremeos (read 2026-11-08)
- Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 803, 2013 (consolidated April 2026) (PDF), Village of Keremeos (read 2026-11-08)
- Garbage and Recycling, Village of Keremeos (read 2026-11-08)
- Home, Village of Keremeos (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.