McBride backyard fire and burning rules

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

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

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.

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.Open Burning Control Bylaw No. 680, 2008, s. 2, 4(a), 5(a); Campfire/Open Burning Permits, Permit page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 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. 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).
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.Campfire/Open Burning Permits, Permit page; Open Burning Control Bylaw No. 680, 2008, s. 3(b), 4(b) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 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. 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.
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.Campfire/Open Burning Permits, Permit page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 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)
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.Open Burning Control Bylaw No. 680, 2008, s. 3(c), 3(f); Campfire/Open Burning Permits, Permit page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 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. all Village of McBride burning permits are subject to Provincial burning restrictions. Prince George Fire Centre Bans and Restrictions
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).McBride Regional Transfer Station, Regional District of Fraser-Fort George, Yard and garden waste · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 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.
Fine	Minimum fine of $100 on conviction for breaking the Burning Bylaw. No ticket amount is listed.Open Burning Control Bylaw No. 680, 2008, s. 11(c) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 Official wording shall, be liable to a minimum fine of one hundred dollars ($100).
Bylaw	Village of McBride Open Burning Control Bylaw No. 680, 2008.Open Burning Control Bylaw No. 680, 2008, s. 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 Official wording This Bylaw may be cited as the "Village of McBride Open Burning Control Bylaw No. 680, 2008".

How it works

Under the Village's Open Burning Control Bylaw 680, 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.

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

The same question in other places

Valemount · Wells · Quesnel · Williams Lake · Prince George · Clearwater

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

Sources

Campfire/Open Burning Permits, Village of McBride (read 2026-11-08)
Open Burning Control Bylaw No. 680, 2008 (PDF), Village of McBride (read 2026-11-08)
McBride Regional Transfer Station, Regional District of Fraser-Fort George (read 2026-11-08)
Bylaw library, Village of McBride (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.