{"title":"McBride backyard fire and burning rules","question":"Can I have a backyard fire or burn yard waste in McBride?","slug":"backyard-fire","place":{"path":"ca/bc/mcbride","name":"McBride","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":"Village of McBride","url":"https://mcbride.ca"},"short_answer":"In McBride, campfires and open burning both need a free Campfire/Open Burning Permit from the Village Office. A campfire must be in a fire pit no bigger than 60 cm across. Burning is banned when the Fire Chief orders it or when an air quality advisory is in effect.","aliases":["backyard fire mcbride","burning permit mcbride","campfire permit mcbride","burn yard waste mcbride","fire ban mcbride"],"cost":"Permit is free. Minimum fine $100 on conviction under the Burning Bylaw; the owner also pays the fire department's costs if the fire escapes or is prohibited.","how_long":"A campfire permit is valid until December 31 of the current year unless cancelled.","where":[{"type":"in_person","label":"Village Office","value":"100 Robson Centre, 855 SW Frontage Rd., McBride, BC V0J 2E0","note":"Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Wednesday 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; closed statutory holidays"},{"type":"phone","label":"Village Office","value":"250-569-2229"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Campfire/Open Burning Permits, Village of McBride","url":"https://mcbride.ca/municipal-services/permits-licences/campfireopen-burning-permits"},{"title":"Open Burning Control Bylaw No. 680, 2008 (PDF), Village of McBride","url":"https://mcbride.civicweb.net/document/3533/"}],"related":[{"slug":"yard-waste","title":"McBride yard waste collection and drop-off","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mcbride/yard-waste/"},{"slug":"bylaw-fines","title":"McBride bylaw fines and how tickets work","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mcbride/bylaw-fines/"},{"slug":"garbage-collection","title":"McBride garbage collection: schedule, carts and limits","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mcbride/garbage-collection/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/valemount","name":"Valemount","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/valemount/backyard-fire/"},{"place":"ca/bc/wells","name":"Wells","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/wells/backyard-fire/"},{"place":"ca/bc/quesnel","name":"Quesnel","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/quesnel/backyard-fire/"},{"place":"ca/bc/williams-lake","name":"Williams Lake","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/williams-lake/backyard-fire/"},{"place":"ca/bc/prince-george","name":"Prince George","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/prince-george/backyard-fire/"},{"place":"ca/bc/clearwater","name":"Clearwater","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/clearwater/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 with a free Campfire/Open Burning Permit. A recreational fire is in a fireplace, barbecue or fire pit no bigger than 60 cm across, at least 4.6 m from property lines and 3.0 m from any combustible structure. Someone 19 or older must watch it. No burning in barrels.","short":"Yes, with a free permit","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://mcbride.civicweb.net/document/3533/","title":"Open Burning Control Bylaw No. 680, 2008 (PDF), Village of McBride","section":"s. 2, 4(a), 5(a)","quotes":["Recreational Fire means the burning of wood for recreational purposes in a permanent outdoor fireplace, barbecue or fire pit not larger than 60 centimetres in diameter","Recreation fires must be carried out at least 4.6 metres from all property lines and at least 3.0 metres from any combustible structure.","must ensure that the fire is continuously supervised and controlled by a person who is at least nineteen (19) years old."]},{"url":"https://mcbride.ca/municipal-services/permits-licences/campfireopen-burning-permits","title":"Campfire/Open Burning Permits, Village of McBride","section":"Permit page","quotes":["The Village of McBride issues Campfire/Open Burning Permits to residents who wish to have campfires on their properties or to burn yard waste.","There will be no burning in receptacles (eg. no burning barrels)."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"open_burning":{"label":"Burning yard waste","value":"Allowed with a permit, on the parcel the debris came from. Pile no bigger than 8 cubic feet (2' x 2' x 2'). Keep 4.6 m from property lines and buildings and 3.0 m from grass, shrubs, trees or wooden fences. No open grass burning. No tires, treated lumber, plastics or garbage. No burning if smoke would affect nearby people.","short":"Yes, with a permit","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://mcbride.ca/municipal-services/permits-licences/campfireopen-burning-permits","title":"Campfire/Open Burning Permits, Village of McBride","section":"Permit page","quotes":["Size of burn pile cannot exceed 8 cubic feet (2'x2'x2').","Open grass burning is not permitted with the exception of fires started and maintained by the McBride District Volunteer Fire Department."]},{"url":"https://mcbride.civicweb.net/document/3533/","title":"Open Burning Control Bylaw No. 680, 2008 (PDF), Village of McBride","section":"s. 3(b), 4(b)","quotes":["The debris is open burned on the parcel of land from which it originated.","4.6m from all property lines and buildings and at least 3.0m from any grass, shrub, trees or wooden fence."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"permit":{"label":"Permit","value":"Yes. Get a Campfire/Open Burning Permit at the Village Office. It is free. The applicant must own the property or have a letter from the owner. A campfire permit is valid until Dec. 31 of the current year unless cancelled.","short":"Yes, free","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://mcbride.ca/municipal-services/permits-licences/campfireopen-burning-permits","title":"Campfire/Open Burning Permits, Village of McBride","section":"Permit page","quotes":["Please visit the Village Office to apply for a Campfire/Open Burning Permit. There is no cost for these permits.","The applicant must be the owner of the property or have a letter authorizing the applicant to apply for an Open Burning Permit","Campfire Permits are valid until December 31 of the current year (except where cancelled)"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"fire_bans":{"label":"Fire bans","value":"Open burning is banned during periods set by the Fire Chief, and when an air quality advisory is in effect. Village permits are also subject to Provincial burning restrictions, listed by the Prince George Fire Centre.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://mcbride.civicweb.net/document/3533/","title":"Open Burning Control Bylaw No. 680, 2008 (PDF), Village of McBride","section":"s. 3(c), 3(f)","quotes":["Open burning is prohibited during times specified by the Fire Chief or his/her designate as burning ban periods.","No person shall conduct open burning or ignite or maintain any recreational fire if an air quality advisory has been issued."]},{"url":"https://mcbride.ca/municipal-services/permits-licences/campfireopen-burning-permits","title":"Campfire/Open Burning Permits, Village of McBride","section":"Permit page","quotes":["all Village of McBride burning permits are subject to Provincial burning restrictions.","Prince George Fire Centre Bans and Restrictions"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"alternatives":{"label":"Instead of burning","value":"Yard waste is not collected with the garbage. The Regional District suggests composting at home, and says yard and garden waste is accepted at the Valemount Regional Transfer Station (not listed at McBride).","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.rdffg.ca/McBrideRegionalTransferStation","title":"McBride Regional Transfer Station, Regional District of Fraser-Fort George","section":"Yard and garden waste","quotes":["You can effectively deal with with yard and garden waste by composting in your backyard.","Yard and garden waste is also accepted at the Valemount Regional Transfer Station."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"fine":{"label":"Fine","value":"Minimum fine of $100 on conviction for breaking the Burning Bylaw. No ticket amount is listed.","short":"No ticket; minimum $100 on conviction","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://mcbride.civicweb.net/document/3533/","title":"Open Burning Control Bylaw No. 680, 2008 (PDF), Village of McBride","section":"s. 11(c)","quotes":["shall, be liable to a minimum fine of one hundred dollars ($100)."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Village of McBride Open Burning Control Bylaw No. 680, 2008.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://mcbride.civicweb.net/document/3533/","title":"Open Burning Control Bylaw No. 680, 2008 (PDF), Village of McBride","section":"s. 1","quotes":["This Bylaw may be cited as the \"Village of McBride Open Burning Control Bylaw No. 680, 2008\"."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":7,"stated":7,"matched":7,"none":0,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nUnder the Village's [Open Burning Control Bylaw 680](<https://mcbride.civicweb.net/document/3533/>), campfires and open burning need a Campfire/Open Burning Permit. It is free. Apply at the Village Office; the applicant must own the property or have a letter from the owner. See the [permit page](<https://mcbride.ca/municipal-services/permits-licences/campfireopen-burning-permits>).\n\n## Campfires\n\nA recreational fire is in a fireplace, barbecue or fire pit no bigger than 60 cm across. Keep it at least 4.6 m from property lines and 3.0 m from any combustible structure. Someone 19 or older must watch it. No burning in barrels.\n\n## Open burning of yard debris\n\n- Burn only on the parcel the debris came from, in a pile no bigger than 8 cubic feet (2' x 2' x 2').\n- Keep 4.6 m from property lines and buildings and 3.0 m from grass, shrubs, trees or wooden fences.\n- No open grass burning. No tires, treated lumber, plastics or garbage.\n- No burning if the smoke would affect nearby people.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- Open burning is banned during periods set by the Fire Chief and while an air quality advisory is in effect. Village permits are also subject to Provincial burning restrictions; the Village page links to the Prince George Fire Centre's bans and restrictions list.\n- Yard waste is not collected with the garbage. The Regional District suggests composting at home.\n- No ticket amount is listed. The minimum court fine is $100 for breaking the bylaw.","sources":[{"url":"https://mcbride.ca/municipal-services/permits-licences/campfireopen-burning-permits","title":"Campfire/Open Burning Permits, Village of McBride","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://mcbride.civicweb.net/document/3533/","title":"Open Burning Control Bylaw No. 680, 2008 (PDF), Village of McBride","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://www.rdffg.ca/McBrideRegionalTransferStation","title":"McBride Regional Transfer Station, Regional District of Fraser-Fort George","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://mcbride.civicweb.net/filepro/documents/108/","title":"Bylaw library, Village of McBride","accessed":"2026-11-08"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-08","review":{"status":"machine_checked","badge":"Checked against official text","label":"Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 7 of 7 facts was matched to the official text."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mcbride/backyard-fire/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mcbride/backyard-fire.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mcbride/backyard-fire.json"}}