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Metchosin backyard fire and burning rules

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

Metchosin, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-06

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.

Key facts

Backyard campfiresAllowed 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.Fire Regulation and Prevention Bylaw No. 269, 1996 (consolidated September 2018), s. 24; Burning Regulations, Metchosin Fire Department, Campfires · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
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
FIRES ARE NOT PERMITTED ON ANY BEACH WITHIN THE DISTRICT OF METCHOSIN
No permit required
Burning yard wasteResidential 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.Fire Regulation and Prevention Bylaw No. 269, 1996 (consolidated September 2018), ss. 22-23 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
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;
PermitNo 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.Burning Regulations, Metchosin Fire Department, Specific Regulations; Fire Regulation and Prevention Bylaw No. 269, 1996 (consolidated September 2018), s. 25 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
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
under the authorization and subject to the conditions of a valid and subsisting permit
Fire bansThe 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.Fire Regulation and Prevention Bylaw No. 269, 1996 (consolidated September 2018), ss. 17, 20(b); Burning Regulations, Metchosin Fire Department, notices · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
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
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.
Instead of burningNo 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).Rates and Accepted Items, Hartland Landfill, Capital Regional District, Yard & Garden Waste · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
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
FineMunicipal 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.Ticket Information Authorization Bylaw 2004, No. 475, Schedule 15 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
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
BylawFire Regulation and Prevention Bylaw No. 269, 1996 (consolidated September 2018)Fire Regulation and Prevention Bylaw No. 269, 1996 (consolidated September 2018), title · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
Fire Regulation and Prevention Bylaw 269, 1996

How it works

The Fire Regulation and Prevention Bylaw No. 269 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

The same question in other places

Colwood · Langford · View Royal · Sooke · Esquimalt · Victoria

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

Sources

  1. Contact Us | District of Metchosin (read 2026-11-06)
  2. Burning Regulations, Metchosin Fire Department (read 2026-11-06)
  3. Fire Regulation and Prevention Bylaw No. 269, 1996 (consolidated September 2018), District of Metchosin (read 2026-11-06)
  4. Rates and Accepted Items, Hartland Landfill, Capital Regional District (read 2026-11-06)
  5. Ticket Information Authorization Bylaw 2004, No. 475, District of Metchosin (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. How answers are checked.