Midway backyard fire and burning rules
Can I have a backyard fire or burn yard waste in Midway?
Short answer
In Midway, small campfires for cooking, warmth or ceremony are allowed when no ban is in force. Keep them to 0.5 m high and across, attended, 3 m from anything flammable. Dry garden refuse can be burned under set limits. Burn barrels are prohibited. Check the permit rule with the Fire Chief.
Key facts
| Backyard campfires | Allowed for cooking, warmth and ceremonial purposes only, when no ban or restriction is in force. The fire must be no more than 0.5 m high and 0.5 m across, attended, at least 3 m from combustibles and 30 m from flammable liquids or fuel tanks, with wind under 10 km/h.Fire Services and Regulations Bylaw No. 451, 2014, s. 22(3); Fire Services and Regulations Bylaw No. 451, 2014, s. 22(2) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingfor cooking, warmth and ceremonial purposes only the campfire size does not exceed 0.5 metres in height and 0.5 metres in diameter the campfire must be at least 3 metres from any combustible material; and at least 30 metres from any flammable liquids and any fuel containing tanks winds do not exceed ten (10) kilometers per hour and burning is permitted only when venting and air quality are favorable are permitted only during periods when fire or open burning is not prohibited or restricted by the Fire Chief or an Officer |
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| Burning yard waste | Dry garden refuse (plant matter only) may be burned during periods when burning is not banned: attended, one pile no bigger than 1 m across and 1 m high, 3 m from combustibles, wind under 10 km/h. Burn barrels and incinerators for household or yard waste are prohibited.Fire Services and Regulations Bylaw No. 451, 2014, s. 22(4); Fire Services and Regulations Bylaw No. 451, 2014, s. 21(2); Emergency Services, Emergency Services page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingThe burning of dry garden refuse is permitted during the days specified in subsection (2) the refuse is plant matter only the burn material in one pile does not exceed 1 metre in diameter and 1 metre high No person, shall operate, install or construct an Incinerator (either enclosed inside a building or outside) for the disposal of: (a) household waste, refuse, rubbish, garbage, yard and garden waste; burning barrels are prohibited in the Village of Midway per Bylaw 451 |
| Permit | Bylaw 451: no Burning Permit is needed for campfires or backyard burning done under s. 22; a Burning Permit from the Fire Chief is needed for other outdoor fires. The Emergency Services page says a valid burn permit is required for all burning in the Village.Sources differ: The page and the bylaw differ; the bylaw wins, but ask the Fire Chief (250-449-2206) which applies. No permit fee is stated; the FAQ lists burning permits among Village transactions.Fire Services and Regulations Bylaw No. 451, 2014, s. 21(1); Emergency Services, Emergency Services page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingother than a campfire or backyard burning on open ground in accordance with section 22, without first obtaining a Burning Permit from the Fire Chief A valid burn permit is required for all burning within the Village of Midway. |
| Fire bans | Campfires and backyard burning are not allowed when the Fire Chief or an officer prohibits or restricts burning, or when the Ministry of Forests prohibits open fires in the unincorporated areas outside the Village.Fire Services and Regulations Bylaw No. 451, 2014, s. 22(2); Fire Services and Regulations Bylaw No. 451, 2014, s. 22(2)(b) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingare permitted only during periods when fire or open burning is not prohibited or restricted by the Fire Chief or an Officer are not permitted at times when the Ministry of Forests prohibits open fires in the unincorporated areas outside the boundaries of the Village |
| Instead of burning | Yard and garden waste is not accepted in the RDKB green bin. Residents outside Grand Forks can take it to the Grand Forks or West Boundary (Greenwood) landfill or any staffed transfer station; tipping fees apply.Green Bin User Guide, posted by Village of Midway, What's OUT; Utilities, Utilities page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingYard and garden waste garden waste to the Grand Forks or West Boundary (Greenwood) landfill or any staffed transfer station. Tipping Garbage Collection – the RDKB provides garbage pick-up every Wednesday |
| Fine | At least $500 on conviction, up to the maximum in the Community Charter; each day is a separate offence.Fire Services and Regulations Bylaw No. 451, 2014, s. 51(2) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingcommits an offence and is liable to a minimum fine of $500.00 and the maximum fine prescribed by the Community Charter |
| Bylaw | Village of Midway Fire Services and Regulations Bylaw No. 451, 2014Fire Services and Regulations Bylaw No. 451, 2014, s. 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingThis Bylaw may be cited for all purposes as the “Village of Midway Fire Services and Regulations Bylaw No. 451, 2014”. |
How it works
The Fire Services and Regulations Bylaw No. 451, 2014 allows a campfire for cooking, warmth and ceremonial purposes only, when no ban or restriction is in force. The fire must be no more than 0.5 m high and 0.5 m across, attended, at least 3 m from combustibles and 30 m from flammable liquids or fuel tanks, with wind under 10 km/h.
Dry garden refuse (plant matter only) may be burned when burning is not banned. It must be attended, in one pile no bigger than 1 m across and 1 m high, 3 m from combustibles, with wind under 10 km/h. Burn barrels and incinerators for household or yard waste are prohibited.
Good to know
- Permit: Bylaw 451 says no Burning Permit is needed for campfires or backyard burning done under section 22. A permit from the Fire Chief is needed for other outdoor fires. The Village's Emergency Services page says a valid burn permit is required for all burning. The bylaw and the page differ, so ask the Fire Chief (250-449-2206) which applies. No permit fee is stated.
- Bans: burning is not allowed when the Fire Chief or an officer prohibits or restricts it, or when the Ministry of Forests prohibits open fires outside the Village. The official pages read do not say where to look up the current status, so ask the Fire Chief.
- Owners of at least 0.8 ha may burn plant-matter industrial waste with a Ministry of Environment permit.
- Yard and garden waste is not accepted in the green bin. See the yard waste answer for other options.
- Penalty: at least $500 on conviction, up to the maximum in the Community Charter. Each day is a separate offence.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Greenwood · Grand Forks · Osoyoos · Oliver · Rossland · Keremeos
Backyard fire and burning rules in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Fire Services and Regulations Bylaw No. 451, 2014 (PDF), Village of Midway (read 2026-11-08)
- Emergency Services, Village of Midway (read 2026-11-08)
- Utilities, Village of Midway (read 2026-11-08)
- Green Bin User Guide (PDF), posted by Village of Midway (read 2026-11-08)
- FAQ, Village of Midway (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.