{"title":"Ladysmith backyard fire and burning rules","question":"Can I have a backyard fire or burn yard waste in Ladysmith?","slug":"backyard-fire","place":{"path":"ca/bc/ladysmith","name":"Ladysmith","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":"Town of Ladysmith","url":"https://www.ladysmith.ca"},"short_answer":"In Ladysmith, a contained campfire needs no permit if it is no bigger than 0.5 m high and wide, at least 5 m from buildings, shrubs, grassy areas and property lines, and supervised with water on hand. Backyard burning of yard waste is banned, as are burn barrels. Fires are not allowed during a Town or provincial ban.","aliases":["campfire ladysmith","backyard burning ladysmith","fire ban ladysmith","burn barrel ladysmith"],"cost":"No fee stated. The fine is not stated in the current fire bylaw.","how_long":"Not applicable.","where":[{"type":"email","label":"Ladysmith Fire/Rescue","value":"dispatch@ladysmith.ca"},{"type":"online","label":"Fire Restrictions page","value":"https://www.ladysmith.ca/public-safety/ladysmith-fire-rescue/fire-restrictions"},{"type":"phone","label":"Town Hall","value":"250-245-6400","note":"Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m."}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Fire Prevention Bylaw 2013, No. 1815 (PDF)","url":"https://www.ladysmith.ca/docs/default-source/bylaws-2021/1815-fire-prevention-bylaw-2013.pdf"},{"title":"Fire Restrictions, Ladysmith Fire Rescue","url":"https://www.ladysmith.ca/public-safety/ladysmith-fire-rescue/fire-restrictions"}],"related":[{"slug":"fireworks","title":"Ladysmith fireworks rules","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ladysmith/fireworks/"},{"slug":"yard-waste","title":"Ladysmith yard waste collection and drop-off","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ladysmith/yard-waste/"},{"slug":"bylaw-fines","title":"Ladysmith bylaw fines and how tickets work","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ladysmith/bylaw-fines/"},{"slug":"garbage-collection","title":"Ladysmith garbage collection: schedule, carts and limits","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ladysmith/garbage-collection/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/north-cowichan","name":"North Cowichan","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-cowichan/backyard-fire/"},{"place":"ca/bc/duncan","name":"Duncan","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/duncan/backyard-fire/"},{"place":"ca/bc/lake-cowichan","name":"Lake Cowichan","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-cowichan/backyard-fire/"},{"place":"ca/bc/nanaimo","name":"Nanaimo","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nanaimo/backyard-fire/"},{"place":"ca/bc/lantzville","name":"Lantzville","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lantzville/backyard-fire/"},{"place":"ca/bc/north-saanich","name":"North Saanich","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-saanich/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":"Allowed without a permit if the fire is contained (fire ring, pit or fireplace), no bigger than 0.5 m high and wide, at least 5 m from buildings, sheds, shrubs, grassy areas or property lines, supervised, and 8 litres of water or a tool is on hand. Not allowed during a Town or provincial ban.","short":"Yes, no permit, up to 0.5 m high and wide","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.ladysmith.ca/public-safety/ladysmith-fire-rescue/fire-restrictions","title":"Fire Restrictions, Ladysmith Fire Rescue","section":"Campfires & Outdoor Fireplaces","quotes":["Must be at least 5 metres away from buildings, sheds, shrubs, grassy areas, or property lines.","Must be no larger than 0.5 metres in height and width.","You MUST have at least 8 litres of water or a tool on hand at all times while the fire is lit.","Must not violate any provincial or Town orders restricting campfires or outdoor burning."]},{"url":"https://www.ladysmith.ca/docs/default-source/bylaws-2021/1815-fire-prevention-bylaw-2013.pdf","title":"Fire Prevention Bylaw 2013, No. 1815 (PDF)","section":"s. 15(d)","quotes":["Campfires and outdoor fireplaces situated not less than 5 meters from any"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"open_burning":{"label":"Burning yard waste","value":"No. Backyard burning is banned: garden-waste (Class 2), demolition-waste (Class 3) and any yard-waste fires are not permitted, and burn barrels and burn cages are prohibited.","short":"No","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.ladysmith.ca/public-safety/ladysmith-fire-rescue/fire-restrictions","title":"Fire Restrictions, Ladysmith Fire Rescue","section":"Year-round restrictions","quotes":["Conduct backyard burning.","Use burn barrels, burn cages or sky lanterns."]},{"url":"https://www.ladysmith.ca/docs/default-source/bylaws-2021/1815-fire-prevention-bylaw-2013.pdf","title":"Fire Prevention Bylaw 2013, No. 1815 (PDF)","section":"s. 17","quotes":["No person shall start or maintain a Class 2 or 3 Fire or a garden refuse fire."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"permit":{"label":"Permit","value":"No permit for a campfire that meets the rules. Class 1 special-occasion fires are allowed only if approved by a Town officer (civic events). For other fires, e-mail Ladysmith Fire/Rescue at dispatch@ladysmith.ca. No fee stated.","short":"No for compliant campfire; no fee stated","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.ladysmith.ca/public-safety/ladysmith-fire-rescue/fire-restrictions","title":"Fire Restrictions, Ladysmith Fire Rescue","section":"Fire classifications / Need a fire permit?","quotes":["Allowed, only if approved by a Town officer","Some fires may be permitted for special events."]},{"url":"https://www.ladysmith.ca/docs/default-source/bylaws-2021/1815-fire-prevention-bylaw-2013.pdf","title":"Fire Prevention Bylaw 2013, No. 1815 (PDF)","section":"s. 16","quotes":["No person shall start or maintain a Class 1 Fire unless it is for a civic event, function or"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"fire_bans":{"label":"Fire bans","value":"Town restrictions are posted on the Town's Fire Restrictions page; the Province, through the Coastal Fire Centre, also imposes seasonal restrictions. Check the Coastal Fire Centre or the BC Fire Bans and Restrictions page.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.ladysmith.ca/public-safety/ladysmith-fire-rescue/fire-restrictions","title":"Fire Restrictions, Ladysmith Fire Rescue","section":"Fire Restrictions page","quotes":["the Province, via the Coastal Fire Centre, also imposes restrictions on a seasonal basis","For information on regional and provincial fire bans, please visit the Coastal Fire Centre"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"alternatives":{"label":"Instead of burning","value":"Yard and garden waste is not accepted at the curb. Take it to the CVRD Peerless Road Recycling Centre, 10830 Westdowne Road: grass, leaves and branches under 3 inches across, free for residential loads.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.ladysmith.ca/our-services/garbage-recycling/organics","title":"Organics, Town of Ladysmith","section":"Unaccepted items","quotes":["Yard and garden waste"]},{"url":"https://cvrd.ca/services/garbage-recycling/waste-and-recycling-facilities/accepted-materials-and-fees/","title":"Accepted Materials and Fees, Cowichan Valley Regional District","section":"Yard Waste","quotes":["Yard Waste | Free (residential loads)"]},{"url":"https://www.ladysmith.ca/our-services/garbage-recycling/garbage","title":"Garbage, Town of Ladysmith","section":"Peerless Road","quotes":["Address: 10830 Westdowne Road"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"fine":{"label":"Fine","value":null,"status":"none","note":"The Fire Prevention Bylaw makes breaking the rules an offence but states no fine amount.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.ladysmith.ca/docs/default-source/bylaws-2021/1815-fire-prevention-bylaw-2013.pdf","title":"Fire Prevention Bylaw 2013, No. 1815 (PDF)"}]},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Fire Prevention Bylaw 2013, No. 1815","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.ladysmith.ca/docs/default-source/bylaws-2021/1815-fire-prevention-bylaw-2013.pdf","title":"Fire Prevention Bylaw 2013, No. 1815 (PDF)","section":"s. 2","quotes":["Fire Prevention Bylaw 2013, No. 1815"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":7,"stated":6,"matched":6,"none":1,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nThe [Fire Prevention Bylaw 2013, No. 1815](https://www.ladysmith.ca/docs/default-source/bylaws-2021/1815-fire-prevention-bylaw-2013.pdf) and the Town's [Fire Restrictions page](https://www.ladysmith.ca/public-safety/ladysmith-fire-rescue/fire-restrictions) set the rules for Ladysmith. A campfire needs no permit if it meets all of these:\n\n- It is contained in a fire ring, pit or fireplace.\n- It is no bigger than 0.5 m high and wide.\n- It is at least 5 m from buildings, sheds, shrubs, grassy areas and property lines.\n- It is supervised, with 8 litres of water or a tool on hand.\n\nCampfires are not allowed during a Town or provincial ban.\n\n## What is banned\n\nBackyard burning is banned year round. Garden-waste fires, demolition-waste fires and any yard-waste fires are not permitted, and burn barrels and burn cages are prohibited.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Check the Town's Fire Restrictions page and the Province's BC Fire Bans and Restrictions page (the Coastal Fire Centre sets seasonal provincial restrictions) before you light a fire.\n2. For a fire not otherwise allowed, e-mail Ladysmith Fire/Rescue at dispatch@ladysmith.ca. Class 1 special-occasion fires are allowed only if approved by a Town officer.\n3. For yard waste, use the drop-off instead; see the yard waste answer.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- Yard and garden waste is not accepted at the curb. The CVRD Peerless Road Recycling Centre takes grass, leaves and branches under 3 inches across, free for residential loads.\n- The bylaw makes breaking the rules an offence but states no fine amount. An older ticket schedule names a burning bylaw that has since been repealed.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.ladysmith.ca/docs/default-source/bylaws-2021/1815-fire-prevention-bylaw-2013.pdf","title":"Fire Prevention Bylaw 2013, No. 1815 (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www.ladysmith.ca/public-safety/ladysmith-fire-rescue/fire-restrictions","title":"Fire Restrictions, Ladysmith Fire Rescue","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www.ladysmith.ca/our-services/garbage-recycling/organics","title":"Organics, Town of Ladysmith","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www.ladysmith.ca/our-services/garbage-recycling/garbage","title":"Garbage, Town of Ladysmith","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://cvrd.ca/services/garbage-recycling/waste-and-recycling-facilities/accepted-materials-and-fees/","title":"Accepted Materials and Fees, Cowichan Valley Regional District","accessed":"2026-11-06"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-06","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 is recorded as not set."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ladysmith/backyard-fire/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ladysmith/backyard-fire.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ladysmith/backyard-fire.json"}}