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Mission backyard fire and burning rules

Can I have a backyard fire or burn yard waste?

Mission, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-05

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.

Key facts

Backyard campfiresYes, 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.Burning Bylaw 5962-2020 (consolidated), s. 4.4 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
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
Burning yard wasteYard 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.Burning Bylaw 5962-2020 (consolidated), s. 4.5; s. 2.1 (yard debris); Solid Waste Management Bylaw 5526-2015, s. 2.6, 2.7 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
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;
No person within the District’s Curbside Collection Area shall burn any Garbage
PermitThe 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.Burning Bylaw 5962-2020 (consolidated), s. 3.1(c) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
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
Fire bansThe 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.Burning Bylaw 5962-2020 (consolidated), s. 3.1(b); s. 5.3; Fire ban notices, Fire Ban Takes Effect July 16 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
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
The ban includes all recreational fire pits.
contact Mission Fire Rescue Service at 604-820-3793
Instead of burningCurbside 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.Burning Bylaw 5962-2020 (consolidated), s. 4.1; Composting · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
every reasonable alternative to burning the debris is considered including compost, reuse, and recycling
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.
FineBylaw 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.Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 5700-2018, Schedule 8; Ticket Information Bylaw 2646-1993, Schedule 11 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
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
Prohibited burn 5 (a) $250.00
Burn contrary to ban 5 (c) $1,000.00
Burn contrary to order 5 (f) $1,000.00
BylawDistrict of Mission Burning Bylaw 5962-2020Burning Bylaw 5962-2020 (consolidated), s. 1.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
District of Mission Burning Bylaw 5962-2020

How it works

The Burning Bylaw 5962-2020 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

The same question in other places

Abbotsford · Township of Langley · Maple Ridge · Langley City · Pitt Meadows · Chilliwack

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

Sources

  1. Burning Bylaw 5962-2020 (consolidated) (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
  2. Fire ban notices, City of Mission (read 2026-11-05)
  3. Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 5700-2018, Schedule 8 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
  4. Ticket Information Bylaw 2646-1993, Schedule 11 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
  5. Solid Waste Management Bylaw 5526-2015 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
  6. Composting, City of Mission (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. How answers are checked.