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Mackenzie backyard fire and burning rules

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

Mackenzie, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-08

Short answer

In Mackenzie, a backyard campfire needs a Recreational Fire Permit from the Fire Department, and burning yard waste needs a burning permit. No burning is allowed when the forestry hazard is high or extreme. Apply online through Let's Chat Mackenzie.

Key facts

Backyard campfiresYes, with a Recreational Fire Permit: wood burned in a permanent fireplace, barbecue or fire pit not larger than 1 m in diameter that confines the fire. No burning when the forestry hazard is high or extreme. A person over 18 must be in charge, with equipment to control it, and no fire in wind over 10 km/h. Outdoor cooking fires in a proper device (clean dry wood or charcoal) need no permit.Fire Protection Services Bylaw No. 1249, 2010, s. 25, 26, 27, 33, 34; Burn Permits, Let's Chat Mackenzie (linked from the District site) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
Recreational Type - Backyard Burn Pit/Campfire
No person shall ignite, start or maintain, or allow or cause to be lighted, ignited, started or maintained, an Open Air Fire, except under the terms and conditions of a valid burning permit
outdoor cooking fires, provided the fire is contained in a device or fixture
No person shall ignite or allow an Open Air Fire to burn in wind conditions exceeding
Recreational Fire Permits are issued all year round, and expire on December 31st.
Burning is not allowed when the forestry hazard is high or extreme
fire pit not larger than 1 m in diameter that is designed and constructed to confine the fire
Burning yard wasteBurning yard waste is only by burning permit. The bylaw lets the District issue a permit for residential burning of yard waste (clippings, leaves, tree and shrub prunings) during a specified time each spring and fall set by the Fire Chief, for land clearing debris, or for a special event. Burning household garbage and prohibited materials is banned.Fire Protection Services Bylaw No. 1249, 2010, s. 29, 32 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
residential open air burning of yard waste in the nature of clippings, leaves, tree
and shrub prunings during a specified time each spring and fall as determined by the Fire Chief;
household garbage;
PermitYes. Apply for a burn permit online through Let's Chat Mackenzie (or get help at the Municipal Office, Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.); the Fire Department responds within 3 business days. Keep a digital or paper copy of the approved permit to show an officer. Recreational permits are issued year-round and expire December 31; Category 1, 2 and 3 permits are valid for at most 30 days.Burn and Fireworks Permits; Burn Permits, Let's Chat Mackenzie (linked from the District site) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
Burn and Fireworks Permits can now be filled out online on Let's Chat Mackenzie.
the Fire Department will review the application and respond within 3 business days
Category #1, Category #2, and Category #3 permits are valid for a maximum of 30 days from the date of issue
Fire bansThe Fire Chief can cancel or suspend a burning permit if a fire may create a hazard, and no burning permits are issued during an active Category 1 fire ban in Mackenzie. BC Wildfire Service bans also apply: check its fire bans and restrictions page for your fire centre, and check with the District for local restrictions.Fire Protection Services Bylaw No. 1249, 2010, s. 36; Fire Department; Fire Safety - District of Mackenzie, Campfire Rules; Current prohibitions and restrictions, BC Wildfire Service · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
if the Fire Chief considers that igniting a fire in any area may create ahazard to
Burning permits will not be issued when there is an active category 1 fire ban in Mackenzie.
It is the persons’ responsibility to find out what areas have fire bans and restrictions
Select your fire centre below for more details on current BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) open fire prohibitions
always check with local government authorities for any other open fire restrictions
Instead of burningAll yard, garden and construction waste must be taken to the Mackenzie Regional Transfer Station (yard and garden waste has a designated drop-off place there). The District also runs a free FireSmart curbside debris pickup in some years.Garbage Collection - District of Mackenzie, Yard & Garden Waste; Waste & Recycling - District of Mackenzie, Mackenzie Transfer Station; 2026 FireSmart Curbside Pickup - District of Mackenzie · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
All yard, garden, and construction waste must be taken to the Mackenzie Regional Transfer Station.
There are also designated places on site to drop off used oil, old propane tanks, antifreeze, household appliances, automotive batteries and yard and garden waste.
FREE FireSmart curbside debris pickup program
FineMunicipal ticket: $100 for failing to obtain a burn permit (s. 26); for breaking permit conditions $150 (recreational), $250 (Category 1), $350 (Category 2), $500 (Category 3) (s. 35). The bylaw itself sets $1,000 to $10,000 on conviction.Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 1465, 2022, amended by Nos. 1488 and 1502, Schedule 9; Fire Protection Services Bylaw No. 1249, 2010, s. 41 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
1. Failure to obtain Burn Permit. 26. $100
2. Recreational Fire Permit – Non-Compliance. 35.(a) $150
5. Category #3 Fire Permit – Non-Compliance. 35.(d) $500
a minimum fine of $1000 and a maximum fine of $10,000
BylawFire Protection Services Bylaw No. 1249, 2010 (ss. 25 to 37).Fire Protection Services Bylaw No. 1249, 2010, s. 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
This Bylaw may be cited as the "Fire Protection Services Bylaw No. 1249, 2010"

How it works

The District of Mackenzie's Fire Protection Services Bylaw No. 1249 requires a Recreational Fire Permit for a recreational fire. That is wood burned in a permanent fireplace, barbecue or fire pit not larger than 1 m in diameter that confines the fire. Outdoor cooking fires in a proper device, using clean dry wood or charcoal, need no permit. Burning yard waste (clippings, leaves, tree and shrub prunings) is only by burning permit, during a specified time each spring and fall set by the Fire Chief, or for land clearing debris or a special event. Burning household garbage and prohibited materials is banned.

Steps

  1. Apply online through Let's Chat Mackenzie, or get help at the Municipal Office, Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
  2. Keep a digital or paper copy of the approved permit to show an officer.
  3. Follow the permit conditions. A person over 18 must be in charge, with equipment to control the fire, and no fire is allowed in wind over 10 km/h.

Good to know

  • No burning when the forestry hazard is high or extreme. The Fire Chief can cancel or suspend a permit if a fire may create a hazard, and no permits are issued during an active Category 1 fire ban in Mackenzie.
  • BC Wildfire Service bans also apply: check its fire bans and restrictions page for your fire centre, and check with the District for local restrictions.
  • Instead of burning, take yard, garden and construction waste to the Mackenzie Regional Transfer Station.
  • Municipal tickets: $100 for no burn permit. Breaking permit conditions is $150 (recreational), $250 (Category 1), $350 (Category 2) or $500 (Category 3).

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Chetwynd · Hudson's Hope · Tumbler Ridge · Fort St James · Vanderhoof · Prince George

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

Sources

  1. Fire Protection Services Bylaw No. 1249, 2010 (PDF) (read 2026-11-08)
  2. Burn and Fireworks Permits, District of Mackenzie (read 2026-11-08)
  3. Burn Permits, Let's Chat Mackenzie (linked from the District site) (read 2026-11-08)
  4. Fire Department, District of Mackenzie (read 2026-11-08)
  5. Current prohibitions and restrictions, BC Wildfire Service (read 2026-11-08)
  6. Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 1465, 2022, amended by Nos. 1488 and 1502 (PDF) (read 2026-11-08)
  7. Fire Safety - District of Mackenzie (read 2026-11-08)
  8. Garbage Collection - District of Mackenzie (read 2026-11-08)
  9. Waste & Recycling - District of Mackenzie (read 2026-11-08)
  10. 2026 FireSmart Curbside Pickup - District of Mackenzie (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.