---
title: Metchosin backyard fire and burning rules
question: "Can I have a backyard fire or burn yard waste in Metchosin?"
place: Metchosin, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/metchosin
category: Bylaws, noise and complaints
owner: municipal
owner_body: District of Metchosin
sources_read: 2026-11-06
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/metchosin/backyard-fire/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/metchosin/backyard-fire.json"
---

# Metchosin backyard fire and burning rules

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

**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.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (District of Metchosin, https://www.metchosin.ca)  
**Cost:** No permit fee found. Ticket: $250 for burning or campfire rule breaches ($500 after 30 days).  
**How long:** Not applicable.  
**Where:**
- Online: Burning Regulations (Metchosin Fire Department), https://www.metchosin.ca/fire-department/burning-regulation
- Phone: Fire Chief, 250-478-1307

## Key facts

- **Backyard campfires:** 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.
  - Source: [Fire Regulation and Prevention Bylaw No. 269, 1996 (consolidated September 2018), s. 24](https://metchosin.civicweb.net/document/3280/)
  - Official wording: "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"
  - Source: [Burning Regulations, Metchosin Fire Department, Campfires](https://www.metchosin.ca/fire-department/burning-regulation)
  - Official wording: "FIRES ARE NOT PERMITTED ON ANY BEACH WITHIN THE DISTRICT OF METCHOSIN" … "No permit required"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Burning yard waste:** 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. (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.)
  - Source: [Fire Regulation and Prevention Bylaw No. 269, 1996 (consolidated September 2018), ss. 22-23](https://metchosin.civicweb.net/document/3280/)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Permit:** 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.
  - Source: [Burning Regulations, Metchosin Fire Department, Specific Regulations](https://www.metchosin.ca/fire-department/burning-regulation)
  - Official wording: "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"
  - Source: [Fire Regulation and Prevention Bylaw No. 269, 1996 (consolidated September 2018), s. 25](https://metchosin.civicweb.net/document/3280/)
  - Official wording: "under the authorization and subject to the conditions of a valid and subsisting permit"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fire bans:** 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.
  - Source: [Fire Regulation and Prevention Bylaw No. 269, 1996 (consolidated September 2018), ss. 17, 20(b)](https://metchosin.civicweb.net/document/3280/)
  - Official wording: "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"
  - Source: [Burning Regulations, Metchosin Fire Department, notices](https://www.metchosin.ca/fire-department/burning-regulation)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Instead of burning:** 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).
  - Source: [Rates and Accepted Items, Hartland Landfill, Capital Regional District, Yard & Garden Waste](https://www.crd.ca/programs-services/garbage-recycling/hartland-landfill/rates-accepted-items)
  - Official wording: "Yard and garden material (less than 3"dia) - $59/tonne, $10 minimum" … "Branches and stumps (greater than 3" dia) - $110/tonne, $10 minimum"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** 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.
  - Source: [Ticket Information Authorization Bylaw 2004, No. 475, Schedule 15](https://metchosin.civicweb.net/document/912/)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Fire Regulation and Prevention Bylaw No. 269, 1996 (consolidated September 2018)
  - Source: [Fire Regulation and Prevention Bylaw No. 269, 1996 (consolidated September 2018), title](https://metchosin.civicweb.net/document/3280/)
  - Official wording: "Fire Regulation and Prevention Bylaw 269, 1996"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The [Fire Regulation and Prevention Bylaw No. 269](https://metchosin.civicweb.net/document/3280/) allows two kinds of backyard fire without a permit.

- **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.
- **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.

## Steps

1. 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.
2. 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.

## Good to know

- Burn pile size: the bylaw says 2 m across but the Burning Regulations page says 3 m. Ask the Fire Department which applies.
- The page adds: fully extinguish a campfire with water by midnight, keep a hose or tool at hand, and burn clean dry firewood only.
- No fires at all in a park.
- 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.
- If you would rather not burn, there is no curbside yard waste pickup. See the yard waste answer.

## Official forms and pages

- [Fire Regulation and Prevention Bylaw No. 269](https://metchosin.civicweb.net/document/3280/)

## Related questions

- [Metchosin fireworks rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/metchosin/fireworks.md)
- [Metchosin yard waste collection and drop-off](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/metchosin/yard-waste.md)
- [Metchosin bylaw fines and how tickets work](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/metchosin/bylaw-fines.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Backyard fire and burning rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/backyard-fire.md)
- [Colwood](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/colwood/backyard-fire.md)
- [Langford](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langford/backyard-fire.md)
- [View Royal](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/view-royal/backyard-fire.md)
- [Sooke](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sooke/backyard-fire.md)
- [Esquimalt](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/backyard-fire.md)
- [Victoria](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/victoria/backyard-fire.md)

## Sources

- [Contact Us | District of Metchosin](https://www.metchosin.ca/contact-us-0) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Burning Regulations, Metchosin Fire Department](https://www.metchosin.ca/fire-department/burning-regulation) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Fire Regulation and Prevention Bylaw No. 269, 1996 (consolidated September 2018), District of Metchosin](https://metchosin.civicweb.net/document/3280/) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Rates and Accepted Items, Hartland Landfill, Capital Regional District](https://www.crd.ca/programs-services/garbage-recycling/hartland-landfill/rates-accepted-items) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Ticket Information Authorization Bylaw 2004, No. 475, District of Metchosin](https://metchosin.civicweb.net/document/912/) (read 2026-11-06)

_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 District of Metchosin. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/metchosin/backyard-fire/_