Township of Langley backyard fire and burning rules
Can I have a backyard fire or burn yard waste in the Township of Langley?
Short answer
In the Township of Langley (not the City of Langley), no open-air fire is allowed without a burning permit, and there is no backyard fire pit permit. Yard debris can be burned only with a $30 Incidental Outdoor Burning Permit, for properties of 0.2 hectare or larger, in spring and fall seasons only.
Key facts
| Backyard campfires | No open-air fire of any kind is allowed without a burning permit, including portable incinerators and outdoor fireplaces. Fires in CSA/ULC-approved briquette, natural gas or propane appliances do not need a permit (without instructions: 1 m clearance, supervised, extinguisher or hose on hand). Exterior solid-fuel appliances built without a building permit are prohibited. The Special Burning Permit covers a campfire (max 0.6 m high, 0.49 m wide) only in an authorized campground run by a licensed operator.Fire Prevention Bylaw No. 6061, s. 2.50.01 to 2.50.04, 2.50.09 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordinga person must not light, ignite, start or burn any fire in the open air All exterior solid fuel-fired appliances or devices are prohibited maintain a minimum of 1-meter clearance from the nearest structure, in an authorized campground managed by a licensed operator. |
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| Burning yard waste | Burning yard and garden debris (branches, leaves, plants, tree trimmings, weeds) needs an Incidental Outdoor Burning Permit. It is available only to properties of 0.2 hectare (0.5 acre) or larger where surrounding properties are the same size or larger, in spring and fall seasons only (fall 2026 permits valid October 26 to December 13). Pile at most 1.2 m high and 2 m long or wide, at least 15 m from structures and property lines. Must also follow Metro Vancouver's Open Burning Vegetative Debris rules.Incidental Outdoor Burning Permits · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingAll outdoor burning in the Township of Langley requires a valid Incidental Burning Permit available only to properties .2 hectare (.5 acre) and larger pile size maximum height: 1.2 metres (3 feet) minimum 15 metres (50 feet) from structures and property lines |
| Permit | Yes. An Incidental Outdoor Burning Permit from the Fire Department, apply online only (homeowner or tenant form), $30. Keep it on site (phone or print). Other permits: Land Clearing $250 (with site inspection), Special Burning $80.Incidental Outdoor Burning Permits; Fees and Charges Bylaw 2007 No. 4616, Fire Division fees, Permits · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingAn incidental outdoor burning permit costs $30. Your valid burning permit must be kept on site J1 Outdoor Burning Permit $30.00 Land Clearing Permit (including site inspection) |
| Fire bans | The Fire Chief may by written order restrict or prohibit open-air burning, or outdoor burning other than propane or electric devices, during weather or drought risk. Orders take effect when delivered to the corporate officer and posted on the Township's notice board or website. Metro Vancouver and provincial ministries may also restrict burning.Fire Prevention Bylaw No. 6061, s. 2.12.01, 2.14.01 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingthe Fire Chief may, by written order, restrict or prohibit within is posted on the notice board or website of the Township |
| Instead of burning | Green Cart (food scraps, grass clippings, leaves, twigs), extra yard trimmings in paper bags, 80 L 'Green Can' or 'Yard Trimmings' cans, or branch bundles. Rural properties can backyard compost or self-haul to Metro Vancouver Recycling and Waste Centres.Green Cart; Waste Services for Rural Properties, Organics · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingExtra organic waste can be set out in paper bags, or in 80L cans marked with Backyard compost: Compost your food scraps, yard trimmings |
| Fine | Bylaw notice: $200 for burning without a permit (outdoor, land clearing or special). Breaking conditions of an outdoor burning permit $100; land clearing permit $500. Lighting a fire in a park or public place: $250 under the Public Spaces bylaw; $200 under the Fire Prevention Bylaw (s. 2.11.01(d)).Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 2008 No. 4703, Schedule A, Fire Prevention Bylaw No. 6061 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingBurning without Permit – Outdoor $200.00 Burning permit - Outdoor - contravention Make or light a fire in any street, road, |
| Bylaw | Fire Prevention Bylaw No. 6061 (s. 2.50); Metro Vancouver Open Burning rules also apply.Incidental Outdoor Burning Permits · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingmust follow the guidelines outlined in Fire Prevention Bylaw No. 6061 |
How it works
The Fire Prevention Bylaw No. 6061 (s. 2.50) says no open-air fire of any kind is allowed without a burning permit. That includes portable incinerators and outdoor fireplaces. Fires in CSA or ULC approved briquette, natural gas or propane appliances do not need a permit; without instructions, keep 1 metre of clearance, supervise it and have an extinguisher or hose on hand. Exterior solid-fuel appliances built without a building permit are prohibited. The Township of Langley is a separate municipality from the City of Langley.
Steps
- To burn yard and garden debris (branches, leaves, plants, tree trimmings, weeds), apply online for an Incidental Outdoor Burning Permit from the Fire Department. Homeowner and tenant forms are on the permit page.
- Your property must be 0.2 hectare (0.5 acre) or larger, with surrounding properties the same size or larger.
- Keep the permit on site (phone or print). Burn only in the spring and fall seasons the Township announces.
- Pile at most 1.2 m high and 2 m long or wide, at least 15 m from structures and property lines.
Good to know
- The Special Burning Permit covers a campfire (up to 0.6 m high and 0.49 m wide) only in an authorized campground run by a licensed operator.
- The Fire Chief may by written order restrict or prohibit open-air burning during weather or drought risk. Check tol.ca for current orders. Metro Vancouver and the Province may also restrict burning.
- Alternatives: the Green Cart, paper bags, "Green Can" or "Yard Trimmings" 80 L cans, or branch bundles. Rural properties can compost or self-haul to a Metro Vancouver Recycling and Waste Centre.
- Bylaw notices: burning without a permit $200; breaking permit conditions $100; lighting a fire in a park or public place $250 under the Public Spaces bylaw or $200 under the Fire Prevention Bylaw. No early-payment discount is listed.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Langley City · Surrey · White Rock · Maple Ridge · Port Coquitlam · Mission
Backyard fire and burning rules in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Incidental Outdoor Burning Permits, Township of Langley (read 2026-11-06)
- Fire Prevention Bylaw No. 6061 (PDF), Township of Langley (read 2026-11-06)
- Fees and Charges Bylaw 2007 No. 4616 (PDF), Township of Langley (read 2026-11-06)
- Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 2008 No. 4703 (PDF), Township of Langley (read 2026-11-06)
- Green Cart, Township of Langley (read 2026-11-06)
- Waste Services for Rural Properties, Township of Langley (read 2026-11-06)
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.