---
title: McBride backyard fire and burning rules
question: "Can I have a backyard fire or burn yard waste in McBride?"
place: McBride, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/mcbride
category: Bylaws, noise and complaints
owner: municipal
owner_body: Village of McBride
sources_read: 2026-11-08
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mcbride/backyard-fire/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mcbride/backyard-fire.json"
---

# McBride backyard fire and burning rules

**Question:** Can I have a backyard fire or burn yard waste in McBride?

**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.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Village of McBride, https://mcbride.ca)  
**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:**
- In person: Village Office, 100 Robson Centre, 855 SW Frontage Rd., McBride, BC V0J 2E0 (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)
- Phone: Village Office, 250-569-2229

## Key facts

- **Backyard campfires:** 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.
  - Source: [Open Burning Control Bylaw No. 680, 2008, s. 2, 4(a), 5(a)](https://mcbride.civicweb.net/document/3533/)
  - Official wording: "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."
  - Source: [Campfire/Open Burning Permits, Permit page](https://mcbride.ca/municipal-services/permits-licences/campfireopen-burning-permits)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Burning yard waste:** 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.
  - Source: [Campfire/Open Burning Permits, Permit page](https://mcbride.ca/municipal-services/permits-licences/campfireopen-burning-permits)
  - Official wording: "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."
  - Source: [Open Burning Control Bylaw No. 680, 2008, s. 3(b), 4(b)](https://mcbride.civicweb.net/document/3533/)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Permit:** 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.
  - Source: [Campfire/Open Burning Permits, Permit page](https://mcbride.ca/municipal-services/permits-licences/campfireopen-burning-permits)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Fire bans:** 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.
  - Source: [Open Burning Control Bylaw No. 680, 2008, s. 3(c), 3(f)](https://mcbride.civicweb.net/document/3533/)
  - Official wording: "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."
  - Source: [Campfire/Open Burning Permits, Permit page](https://mcbride.ca/municipal-services/permits-licences/campfireopen-burning-permits)
  - Official wording: "all Village of McBride burning permits are subject to Provincial burning restrictions." … "Prince George Fire Centre Bans and Restrictions"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Instead of burning:** 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).
  - Source: [McBride Regional Transfer Station, Regional District of Fraser-Fort George, Yard and garden waste](https://www.rdffg.ca/McBrideRegionalTransferStation)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Fine:** Minimum fine of $100 on conviction for breaking the Burning Bylaw. No ticket amount is listed.
  - Source: [Open Burning Control Bylaw No. 680, 2008, s. 11(c)](https://mcbride.civicweb.net/document/3533/)
  - Official wording: "shall, be liable to a minimum fine of one hundred dollars ($100)."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** Village of McBride Open Burning Control Bylaw No. 680, 2008.
  - Source: [Open Burning Control Bylaw No. 680, 2008, s. 1](https://mcbride.civicweb.net/document/3533/)
  - Official wording: "This Bylaw may be cited as the "Village of McBride Open Burning Control Bylaw No. 680, 2008"."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

Under 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>).

## Campfires

A 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.

## Open burning of yard debris

- Burn only on the parcel the debris came from, in a 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 the smoke would affect nearby people.

## Good to know

- 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.
- Yard waste is not collected with the garbage. The Regional District suggests composting at home.
- No ticket amount is listed. The minimum court fine is $100 for breaking the bylaw.

## Official forms and pages

- [Campfire/Open Burning Permits, Village of McBride](https://mcbride.ca/municipal-services/permits-licences/campfireopen-burning-permits)
- [Open Burning Control Bylaw No. 680, 2008 (PDF), Village of McBride](https://mcbride.civicweb.net/document/3533/)

## Related questions

- [McBride yard waste collection and drop-off](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mcbride/yard-waste.md)
- [McBride bylaw fines and how tickets work](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mcbride/bylaw-fines.md)
- [McBride garbage collection: schedule, carts and limits](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mcbride/garbage-collection.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Backyard fire and burning rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/backyard-fire.md)
- [Valemount](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/valemount/backyard-fire.md)
- [Wells](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/wells/backyard-fire.md)
- [Quesnel](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/quesnel/backyard-fire.md)
- [Williams Lake](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/williams-lake/backyard-fire.md)
- [Prince George](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/prince-george/backyard-fire.md)
- [Clearwater](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/clearwater/backyard-fire.md)

## Sources

- [Campfire/Open Burning Permits, Village of McBride](https://mcbride.ca/municipal-services/permits-licences/campfireopen-burning-permits) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Open Burning Control Bylaw No. 680, 2008 (PDF), Village of McBride](https://mcbride.civicweb.net/document/3533/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [McBride Regional Transfer Station, Regional District of Fraser-Fort George](https://www.rdffg.ca/McBrideRegionalTransferStation) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Bylaw library, Village of McBride](https://mcbride.civicweb.net/filepro/documents/108/) (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. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with Village of McBride. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mcbride/backyard-fire/_