---
title: Mission backyard fire and burning rules
question: "Can I have a backyard fire or burn yard waste?"
place: Mission, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/mission
category: Bylaws, noise and complaints
owner: municipal
owner_body: City of Mission
sources_read: 2026-11-05
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mission/backyard-fire/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mission/backyard-fire.json"
---

# Mission backyard fire and burning rules

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

**Short answer:** In Mission, a recreational fire is allowed in a fire pit that meets the Burning Bylaw's rules (s. 4.4), and yard debris may be burned October to April outside the residential refuse collection area. A burning ban stops all of it: check mission.ca/fireban or call 604-820-3793 before you light anything.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Mission, https://www.mission.ca)  
**Cost:** Fire pit permit: one-time $40 fee if the Fire Chief issues one after registration (s. 3.1(c)). Special occasion, special circumstance or ceremonial burn permit $5; free for charities and societies.  
**Where:**
- Online: Burn permits (online), https://dom.burnpermits.com/
- Online: Check for a fire ban, https://www.mission.ca/fireban
- Phone: Mission Fire Rescue Service, 604-820-3793

## Key facts

- **Backyard campfires:** Yes, in a fire pit of non-combustible material, enclosed on all sides, no side over 1 m and no higher than 0.6 m; at least 4.6 m from buildings, combustible structures or vegetation; one per parcel, only on a parcel with a dwelling; no more than six times a calendar month, only when ventilation is Good. Dry wood, adult attending.
  - Source: [Burning Bylaw 5962-2020 (consolidated), s. 4.4](https://www.mission.ca/media/file/burning-bylaw-5962-2020pdf)
  - Official wording: "a fire pit shall be constructed of non-combustible material, enclosed on all sides, and shall have no linear dimension exceeding 1 meter (3.28 feet) or vertical dimension exceeding 0.60 meters (2 feet);" … "a fire pit shall not be located closer than 4.6 meters (15.09 feet) to any building, combustible structure," … "only one fire pit is permitted on a parcel of land unless otherwise approved;" … "a fire pit shall only be permitted on a parcel of land containing a dwelling unit;" … "a fire pit shall only be used a maximum of six times per calendar month and only when the ventilation category for the day is good;" … "only dry wood shall be burned within a fire pit;" … "an adult person shall attend the pit, or be in close vicinity to the fire pit, at all times" … "a burn within a fire pit provided the fire and its use complies with the provisions of Section 4.4 of this Bylaw" … "only dry wood shall be burned within a fire pit"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Burning yard waste:** Yard debris (leaves, grass clippings, cuttings from pruning) may be burned October to April only, on days with a Good ventilation forecast, and only on property outside the residential refuse collection area. Pile no bigger than 1 m across and 1 m high, 4.6 m from buildings and combustibles, debris from the same parcel, adult attending. Burn starts one hour after sunrise and ends by 4 p.m. or two hours before sunset, whichever is later. Not during a ban.
  - Source: [Burning Bylaw 5962-2020 (consolidated), s. 4.5; s. 2.1 (yard debris)](https://www.mission.ca/media/file/burning-bylaw-5962-2020pdf)
  - Official wording: "yard debris may be burned from October to April when the ventilation category is Good provided:" … "the property is located outside of the residential refuse collection area;" … "the pile of yard debris to be burned or being burned does not exceed 1 meter (3.28 feet) in diameter and 1 meter (3.28 feet) in height;" … "the burn starts not earlier than one hour after sunrise;" … "the burn ends by 4 p.m. or two hours before sunset whichever is later;" … "the burn is limited to yard debris derived from the parcel of land on which the burn is taking place;" … "leaves, grass clippings, and cuttings resulting from the pruning of shrubs and trees;"
  - Source: [Solid Waste Management Bylaw 5526-2015, s. 2.6, 2.7](https://www.mission.ca/media/file/5526-2015-solid-waste-management-bylawpdf-0)
  - Official wording: "No person within the District’s Curbside Collection Area shall burn any Garbage"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Permit:** The Fire Chief may issue a permit to operate a fire pit once it is registered and a one-time $40 fee is paid (s. 3.1(c)); s. 4.4 lists no registration step. Special occasion, special circumstance or ceremonial burn permit: $5; free for charities and societies. No permit is listed for s. 4.5 yard debris burns.
  - Source: [Burning Bylaw 5962-2020 (consolidated), s. 3.1(c)](https://www.mission.ca/media/file/burning-bylaw-5962-2020pdf)
  - Official wording: "operate a fire pit provided the person has registered the fire pit in accordance with this Bylaw and paid the $40 one-time administration fee" … "All others - $5.00 per permit (effective January 1, 2022)" … "Charitable organizations and Societies – no charge (effective January 1, 2022)" … "a burn within a fire pit provided the fire and its use complies with the provisions of Section 4.4 of this Bylaw"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fire bans:** The Fire Chief can declare a burning ban or issue an order whenever conditions warrant, and no one may burn during a ban. A ban covers all open burning, including recreational fire pits. CSA/ULC-rated barbecues and portable propane or natural gas devices (flame under 15 cm) are still allowed on private property. Check mission.ca/fireban or call Mission Fire Rescue Service at 604-820-3793.
  - Source: [Burning Bylaw 5962-2020 (consolidated), s. 3.1(b); s. 5.3](https://www.mission.ca/media/file/burning-bylaw-5962-2020pdf)
  - Official wording: "declare a burning ban or issue an order" … "No person shall burn or allow a burn to take place during a burn ban declared pursuant"
  - Source: [Fire ban notices, Fire Ban Takes Effect July 16](https://www.mission.ca/fireban)
  - Official wording: "The ban includes all recreational fire pits." … "contact Mission Fire Rescue Service at 604-820-3793"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Instead of burning:** Curbside organics collection takes yard waste weekly. The Mission Landfill takes grass clippings, leaves and moss free from Mission residents, and brush and branches for a fee. The bylaw requires considering compost, reuse and recycling before burning.
  - Source: [Burning Bylaw 5962-2020 (consolidated), s. 4.1](https://www.mission.ca/media/file/burning-bylaw-5962-2020pdf)
  - Official wording: "every reasonable alternative to burning the debris is considered including compost, reuse, and recycling"
  - Source: [Composting](https://www.mission.ca/services/garbage-waste-collection/composting)
  - Official wording: "free drop-off of grass clippings, moss, leaves, as well as paid drop-off of brush and branches at the Mission Landfill" … "Mission’s residential curbside collection system includes collection of both food and yard waste."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** Bylaw notice: burn not allowed (s. 5.1) $250 ($175 within 14 days, $325 after 28 days); against permit conditions (s. 5.2) $250; during a ban (s. 5.3) $500 ($350 / $650); against an order (s. 5.6) $500. The Ticket Information Bylaw, which still names the repealed Burning Bylaw 2975-1996, lists $250 and $1,000 for ban or order.
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 5700-2018, Schedule 8](https://www.mission.ca/media/file/5700-2018-bylaw-notice-enforcement-bylawpdf)
  - Official wording: "Prohibited burn 5.1 $250 $175 $325 No" … "Burn contrary to conditions of permit 5.2 $250 $175 $325 No" … "Burn contrary to ban 5.3 $500 $350 $650 No" … "Burn contrary to order 5.6 $500 $350 $650 No"
  - Source: [Ticket Information Bylaw 2646-1993, Schedule 11](https://www.mission.ca/media/file/2646-1993-ticket-information-bylawpdf-0)
  - Official wording: "Prohibited burn 5 (a) $250.00" … "Burn contrary to ban 5 (c) $1,000.00" … "Burn contrary to order 5 (f) $1,000.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** District of Mission Burning Bylaw 5962-2020
  - Source: [Burning Bylaw 5962-2020 (consolidated), s. 1.1](https://www.mission.ca/media/file/burning-bylaw-5962-2020pdf)
  - Official wording: "District of Mission Burning Bylaw 5962-2020"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The [Burning Bylaw 5962-2020](<https://www.mission.ca/media/file/burning-bylaw-5962-2020pdf>) allows a recreational fire in a fire pit under s. 4.4. The Fire Chief can declare a burning ban or issue an order whenever conditions warrant, and no one may burn during a ban. A ban covers all open burning, including fire pits. CSA/ULC-rated barbecues and portable propane or natural gas devices (flame under 15 cm) are still allowed on private property. Bans change, so check mission.ca/fireban or call Mission Fire Rescue Service at 604-820-3793.

## Steps

1. Check that there is no ban in effect.
2. Fire pit: non-combustible material, enclosed on all sides, no side over 1 m and no higher than 0.6 m. Place it at least 4.6 m from buildings, combustible structures or vegetation. One per parcel, only on a parcel with a dwelling. Burn dry wood only, with an adult attending, no more than six times a calendar month, and only when ventilation is Good.
3. Yard debris (leaves, grass clippings, pruning cuttings): burn October to April only, on days with a Good ventilation forecast, and only outside the residential refuse collection area. Keep the pile to 1 m across and 1 m high, 4.6 m from buildings and combustibles, with debris from the same parcel and an adult attending. The burn starts one hour after sunrise and ends by 4 p.m. or two hours before sunset, whichever is later.

## Good to know

- Permit: the Fire Chief may issue a permit to operate a fire pit once it is registered and a one-time $40 fee is paid (s. 3.1(c)), but s. 4.4 lists no registration step. Ask Fire Rescue whether you need one. No permit is listed for yard debris burns.
- Alternatives: curbside organics collection takes yard waste weekly, and the Mission Landfill takes grass clippings, leaves and moss free from Mission residents, and brush and branches for a fee. The bylaw requires considering compost, reuse and recycling before burning.
- Bylaw notices: burn not allowed $250 ($175 within 14 days, $325 after 28 days); against permit conditions $250; during a ban $500 ($350 / $650); against an order $500. The Ticket Information Bylaw, which still names the repealed Burning Bylaw 2975-1996, lists $250 and $1,000 for a ban or order.

## Official forms and pages

- [Burning Bylaw 5962-2020 (PDF)](https://www.mission.ca/media/file/burning-bylaw-5962-2020pdf)
- [Fire ban information, City of Mission](https://www.mission.ca/fireban)
- [Composting, City of Mission](https://www.mission.ca/services/garbage-waste-collection/composting)

## Related questions

- [Mission fireworks rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mission/fireworks.md)
- [Mission yard waste collection and drop-off](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mission/yard-waste.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Backyard fire and burning rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/backyard-fire.md)
- [Abbotsford](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/abbotsford/backyard-fire.md)
- [Township of Langley](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langley-township/backyard-fire.md)
- [Maple Ridge](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/maple-ridge/backyard-fire.md)
- [Langley City](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langley/backyard-fire.md)
- [Pitt Meadows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/pitt-meadows/backyard-fire.md)
- [Chilliwack](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/chilliwack/backyard-fire.md)

## Sources

- [Burning Bylaw 5962-2020 (consolidated) (PDF)](https://www.mission.ca/media/file/burning-bylaw-5962-2020pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Fire ban notices, City of Mission](https://www.mission.ca/fireban) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 5700-2018, Schedule 8 (PDF)](https://www.mission.ca/media/file/5700-2018-bylaw-notice-enforcement-bylawpdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Ticket Information Bylaw 2646-1993, Schedule 11 (PDF)](https://www.mission.ca/media/file/2646-1993-ticket-information-bylawpdf-0) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Solid Waste Management Bylaw 5526-2015 (PDF)](https://www.mission.ca/media/file/5526-2015-solid-waste-management-bylawpdf-0) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Composting, City of Mission](https://www.mission.ca/services/garbage-waste-collection/composting) (read 2026-11-05)

_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 City of Mission. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mission/backyard-fire/_