Lumby backyard fire and burning rules
Can I have a backyard fire or burn yard waste in Lumby?
Short answer
In Lumby a backyard fire in an Acceptable Fire Pit needs no permit, unless a BC Wildfire Service prohibition is in force. An open air fire such as a brush fire needs a $50 permit, and none is permitted May 1 to October 31.
Key facts
| Backyard campfires | A backyard fire contained in an Acceptable Fire Pit needs no permit. The pit must be 3 m from buildings, property lines and trees, no taller than 0.6 m, no wider than 1 m, with non-combustible enclosed sides, a spark-arrestor mesh screen (openings 1.25 cm or less) unless cooking, and flames no higher than 1 m. Only dry wood, charcoal, natural gas or propane; no non-burnable debris.Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 877, 2022, s. 6.3(b), 6.2, definition of Acceptable Fire Pit · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingis burned in the back yard of a property owned or occupied by the person burning the fire, provided that the fire is contained within an Acceptable Fire Pit; a clearance of at least 3 metres is maintained between the nearest fire pit edge and no flames in or from the fire pit exceed 1 metre in height. No person shall cause, create, permit or suffer any fire in the Village to burn Non-Burnable Debris, or to use a fuel other than dry wood, charcoal, natural gas, or propane |
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| Burning yard waste | An 'Open Air Fire' (the bylaw's definition of Open Fire includes brush fires) needs a permit applied for at least one week ahead, and none is permitted on dates between May 1 and October 31. Non-burnable debris such as household waste may not be burned.Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 877, 2022, s. 6.4; Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 877, 2022, s. 5 definitions · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingA person who wishes to burn an Open Air Fire must apply for and obtain a permit to do so at least one week prior to the date the Open Air Fire is scheduled to occur, which date may not be between May 1 and October 31 of any calendar year. Open Fire means any fire which is not in an Incinerator and not a Public Park Site Fire, and includes grass fires, forest fires, brush fires |
| Permit | Yes for an Open Air Fire: apply to the Manager of Operations on the Schedule B form at least one week ahead. Fee $50, paid on approval. Not needed for an Acceptable Fire Pit in the backyard, a portable barbecue or a domestic fireplace.Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 877, 2022, s. 6.5, 6.8, 6.3 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingAn Application to burn an Open Air Fire must be made to the Manager of Operations a permit fee of $50.00 on approval of the permit application is used to cook food in a portable barbecue appliance; |
| Fire bans | The Village follows all prohibitions set by BC Wildfire Service. While a campfire prohibition is in force the Village says no Category 1, 2 or 3 burning is allowed within the Village. Check the BC Wildfire Service app or bcwildfire.ca, and the Village website.Campfire prohibition notice, July 8, 2026, Village notice, July 8, 2026 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingThe Village of Lumby follows all prohibitions initiated by BC Wildfire Service. For up-to-date information on current wildfire activity, burning restrictions, road closures and air quality advisories please download the BC Wildfire Service mobile app or visit: www.bcwildfire.ca. |
| Instead of burning | Residential yard and garden waste can be taken to the RDNO Lumby Landfill (221 Trinity Valley Road, Thursday to Sunday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.) at no charge by weight. It is not collected at the curb.Lumby Landfill, Regional District of North Okanagan, RDNO Lumby Landfill page; Waste disposal fees, Regional District of North Okanagan, RDNO fees, effective January 1, 2026 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingThursday - Sunday: 9:00 am to 4:00 pm Address: 221 Trinity Valley Road, 8 km North of Lumby Yard and Garden Waste - Residential | tonne | $0.00 |
| Fine | $200 first offence for a fire contrary to the bylaw ($400 second and later); burning non-burnable debris $200 / $300; burning an open air fire outside permitted dates $200 / $300.Ticket Information Authorization Bylaw No. 903, 2025 (Municipal Ticketing Bylaw), Schedule H · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingFire contrary to bylaw 6.1 $200.00 $400.00 Burn non-burnable debris 6.2 $200.00 $300.00 Burn open-air fire outside of permitted dates 6.4 $200.00 $300.00 |
| Bylaw | Village of Lumby Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 877, 2022, Part 6 (Fires and Burning)Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 877, 2022, Part 6 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingPART 6 - FIRES AND BURNING |
How it works
Part 6 of the Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 877 covers fires. A backyard fire contained in an Acceptable Fire Pit needs no permit. The pit must be 3 m from buildings, property lines and trees, no taller than 0.6 m and no wider than 1 m, with non-combustible enclosed sides and a spark-arrestor mesh screen (openings 1.25 cm or less) unless you are cooking. Flames may be no higher than 1 m. Burn only dry wood, charcoal, natural gas or propane. A certified incinerator also needs no permit.
Steps (open air fire)
- Apply to the Manager of Operations on the Schedule B form at least one week ahead.
- Pay the $50 fee on approval.
- Burn only on permitted dates. None is permitted from May 1 to October 31.
Good to know
- Non-burnable debris such as household waste may not be burned.
- The Village follows all BC Wildfire Service prohibitions. While a campfire prohibition is in force, no Category 1, 2 or 3 burning is allowed in the Village. Check the BC Wildfire Service app or bcwildfire.ca, and the Village website, for the current status.
- Yard and garden waste can go to the RDNO Lumby Landfill instead (see the yard waste answer).
- Tickets: $200 first offence and $400 later for a fire contrary to the bylaw. Burning non-burnable debris, or an open air fire outside permitted dates: $200 and $300.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Coldstream · Vernon · Spallumcheen · Armstrong · Enderby · Lake Country
Backyard fire and burning rules in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 877, 2022, Village of Lumby (read 2026-11-08)
- Ticket Information Authorization Bylaw No. 903, 2025 (Municipal Ticketing Bylaw), Village of Lumby (read 2026-11-08)
- Campfire prohibition notice, July 8, 2026, Village of Lumby (read 2026-11-08)
- Lumby Landfill, Regional District of North Okanagan (read 2026-11-08)
- Waste disposal fees, Regional District of North Okanagan (read 2026-11-08)
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.