{"title":"Metchosin backyard fire and burning rules","question":"Can I have a backyard fire or burn yard waste in Metchosin?","slug":"backyard-fire","place":{"path":"ca/bc/metchosin","name":"Metchosin","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":"District of Metchosin","url":"https://www.metchosin.ca"},"short_answer":"In Metchosin, recreational campfires need no permit if they are no larger than 0.6 m across and 6 m from structures and vegetation. Residential burning of vegetation from your own parcel is allowed October 1 to May 31. Check the Fire Department's Burning Regulations page for bans first.","aliases":["backyard burning metchosin","campfire metchosin","burn pile metchosin","fire ban metchosin"],"cost":"No permit fee found. Ticket: $250 for burning or campfire rule breaches ($500 after 30 days).","how_long":"Not applicable.","where":[{"type":"online","label":"Burning Regulations (Metchosin Fire Department)","value":"https://www.metchosin.ca/fire-department/burning-regulation"},{"type":"phone","label":"Fire Chief","value":"250-478-1307"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Fire Regulation and Prevention Bylaw No. 269","url":"https://metchosin.civicweb.net/document/3280/"}],"related":[{"slug":"fireworks","title":"Metchosin fireworks rules","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/metchosin/fireworks/"},{"slug":"yard-waste","title":"Metchosin yard waste collection and drop-off","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/metchosin/yard-waste/"},{"slug":"bylaw-fines","title":"Metchosin bylaw fines and how tickets work","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/metchosin/bylaw-fines/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/colwood","name":"Colwood","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/colwood/backyard-fire/"},{"place":"ca/bc/langford","name":"Langford","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langford/backyard-fire/"},{"place":"ca/bc/view-royal","name":"View Royal","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/view-royal/backyard-fire/"},{"place":"ca/bc/sooke","name":"Sooke","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sooke/backyard-fire/"},{"place":"ca/bc/esquimalt","name":"Esquimalt","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/backyard-fire/"},{"place":"ca/bc/victoria","name":"Victoria","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/victoria/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 without a permit for recreation, cooking or First Nation ceremony: in a fire ring, fire pit or approved appliance, no larger than 0.6 m across, between 6 a.m. and 11:59 p.m., at least 6 m from structures, timber, vegetation, flammables and property lines. Not on the foreshore or any beach.","short":"Yes, no permit, up to 0.6 m across","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://metchosin.civicweb.net/document/3280/","title":"Fire Regulation and Prevention Bylaw No. 269, 1996 (consolidated September 2018), District of Metchosin","section":"s. 24","quotes":["in a fire ring, fire pit, or approved commercial appliance,","no larger than 0.6 metre in diameter","during the time period between 6 a.m. and 11:59 p.m. on the same day, and","at least 6 metres from any structure, standing timber, vegetative matter, other"]},{"url":"https://www.metchosin.ca/fire-department/burning-regulation","title":"Burning Regulations, Metchosin Fire Department","section":"Campfires","quotes":["FIRES ARE NOT PERMITTED ON ANY BEACH WITHIN THE DISTRICT OF METCHOSIN","No permit required"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"open_burning":{"label":"Burning yard waste","value":"Residential burning of vegetative matter from the same parcel is allowed October 1 to May 31, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., on no more than 3 consecutive days, no larger than 2 m across, at least 20 m from any structure and 10 m from timber, vegetation, other flammables and property lines. No garbage, construction waste or petroleum products.","short":"Yes, Oct 1 to May 31, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://metchosin.civicweb.net/document/3280/","title":"Fire Regulation and Prevention Bylaw No. 269, 1996 (consolidated September 2018), District of Metchosin","section":"ss. 22-23","quotes":["for the purpose of burning vegetative matter on the parcel of land from which the","on a day between October 1 and May 31, inclusive, in any year,","during the time period of 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. of the same day,","on no more than 3 consecutive days,","no larger than 2 metres in diameter","at least 20 metres from any structure","at least 10 metres from any standing timber, vegetative matter, other flammable","construction waste;"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"},"sources_differ":"CONFLICT: the District's Burning Regulations page says \"No larger than 3 meters in diameter\", dry leaves and yard waste under 10 cm across, 10 m from trees, fence or shrubs. Value follows the bylaw. The page shows \"Residential Backyard Burning - CLOSED\" in its current notice; Category 2 and 3 burning was allowed again from Oct 15, 2026. Check the page before burning."},"permit":{"label":"Permit","value":"No permit for small residential burning or campfires. A written permit from the Metchosin Fire Department is needed for burning large-diameter debris and for land-clearing fires; permits are at the Fire Chief's discretion and can be recalled.","short":"No for small burning or campfires","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.metchosin.ca/fire-department/burning-regulation","title":"Burning Regulations, Metchosin Fire Department","section":"Specific Regulations","quotes":["Written permit required from the Metchosin Fire Department, must have copy on site","Permits issued at the discretion of the Fire Chief or designate","No permit required"]},{"url":"https://metchosin.civicweb.net/document/3280/","title":"Fire Regulation and Prevention Bylaw No. 269, 1996 (consolidated September 2018), District of Metchosin","section":"s. 25","quotes":["under the authorization and subject to the conditions of a valid and subsisting permit"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"fire_bans":{"label":"Fire bans","value":"The Fire Chief can set a burning ban, and no one may burn while one is in effect. The District posts fire notices on its Burning Regulations page; BC Wildfire Service restrictions also apply.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://metchosin.civicweb.net/document/3280/","title":"Fire Regulation and Prevention Bylaw No. 269, 1996 (consolidated September 2018), District of Metchosin","section":"ss. 17, 20(b)","quotes":["when a burning ban established by the fire chief is in effect,","is authorized to cancel and suspend any right to burn under this bylaw, and"]},{"url":"https://www.metchosin.ca/fire-department/burning-regulation","title":"Burning Regulations, Metchosin Fire Department","section":"notices","quotes":["For current provincial wildfire restrictions and information, visit the BC Wildfire Service website or use the BC Wildfire Service app.","Stay informed of current fire restrictions before conducting any outdoor burning."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"alternatives":{"label":"Instead of burning","value":"No curbside yard waste pickup. Yard and garden material under 3 inches across can go to the CRD's Hartland Landfill depot for $59 a tonne ($10 minimum); branches and stumps over 3 inches are $110 a tonne ($10 minimum).","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.crd.ca/programs-services/garbage-recycling/hartland-landfill/rates-accepted-items","title":"Rates and Accepted Items, Hartland Landfill, Capital Regional District","section":"Yard & Garden Waste","quotes":["Yard and garden material (less than 3\"dia) - $59/tonne, $10 minimum","Branches and stumps (greater than 3\" dia) - $110/tonne, $10 minimum"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"fine":{"label":"Fine","value":"Municipal ticket (Schedule 15), amount if paid within 30 days / after: residential burning rules $250 / $500; campfire rules $250 / $500; burning prohibited material $500 / $1,000; land-clearing fire rules $500 / $1,000.","short":"Ticket $250 ($500 if paid late)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://metchosin.civicweb.net/document/912/","title":"Ticket Information Authorization Bylaw 2004, No. 475, District of Metchosin","section":"Schedule 15","quotes":["15. Burning prohibited material 22 $ 500 $ 1000","16. Burn against residential regulation 23 $ 250 $ 500","17. Burn against campfire regulation 24 $ 250 $ 500","18. Burn against land clearing fire regulation 25 $ 500 $ 1000"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Fire Regulation and Prevention Bylaw No. 269, 1996 (consolidated September 2018)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://metchosin.civicweb.net/document/3280/","title":"Fire Regulation and Prevention Bylaw No. 269, 1996 (consolidated September 2018), District of Metchosin","section":"title","quotes":["Fire Regulation and Prevention Bylaw 269, 1996"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":7,"stated":7,"matched":7,"none":0,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nThe [Fire Regulation and Prevention Bylaw No. 269](https://metchosin.civicweb.net/document/3280/) allows two kinds of backyard fire without a permit.\n\n- **Campfire** for recreation, cooking or First Nation ceremony: in a fire ring, fire pit or approved appliance, no larger than 0.6 m across, between 6 a.m. and 11:59 p.m., at least 6 m from structures, timber, vegetation, flammables and property lines. Not on the foreshore or any beach.\n- **Residential burning** of vegetative matter from the same parcel: October 1 to May 31, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., on no more than 3 consecutive days, no larger than 2 m across, at least 20 m from any structure and 10 m from timber, vegetation, other flammables and property lines. No garbage, construction waste or petroleum products.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Read the notices on the Burning Regulations page before you light anything. The Fire Chief can set a burning ban, and no one may burn while one is in effect. BC Wildfire Service restrictions also apply.\n2. Burning large-diameter debris or clearing land needs a written permit from the Metchosin Fire Department, at the Fire Chief's discretion. Call 250-478-1307.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- Burn pile size: the bylaw says 2 m across but the Burning Regulations page says 3 m. Ask the Fire Department which applies.\n- The page adds: fully extinguish a campfire with water by midnight, keep a hose or tool at hand, and burn clean dry firewood only.\n- No fires at all in a park.\n- Municipal tickets (paid within 30 days of being served, or after): residential burning or campfire rules $250 or $500; burning prohibited material $500 or $1,000; land-clearing fire rules $500 or $1,000.\n- If you would rather not burn, there is no curbside yard waste pickup. See the yard waste answer.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.metchosin.ca/contact-us-0","title":"Contact Us | District of Metchosin","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www.metchosin.ca/fire-department/burning-regulation","title":"Burning Regulations, Metchosin Fire Department","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://metchosin.civicweb.net/document/3280/","title":"Fire Regulation and Prevention Bylaw No. 269, 1996 (consolidated September 2018), District of Metchosin","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www.crd.ca/programs-services/garbage-recycling/hartland-landfill/rates-accepted-items","title":"Rates and Accepted Items, Hartland Landfill, Capital Regional District","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://metchosin.civicweb.net/document/912/","title":"Ticket Information Authorization Bylaw 2004, No. 475, District of Metchosin","accessed":"2026-11-06"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-06","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/metchosin/backyard-fire/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/metchosin/backyard-fire.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/metchosin/backyard-fire.json"}}