---
title: Nakusp backyard fire and burning rules
question: "Can I have a backyard fire or burn yard waste in Nakusp?"
place: Nakusp, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/nakusp
category: Bylaws, noise and complaints
owner: municipal
owner_body: Village of Nakusp
sources_read: 2026-11-08
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nakusp/backyard-fire/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nakusp/backyard-fire.json"
---

# Nakusp backyard fire and burning rules

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

**Short answer:** In Nakusp, a campfire does not need a burning permit, but any other open-air fire does. The free permit comes from the Fire Chief or the Village Office, lasts one week, and allows backyard burning only, in daylight. Burning leaves, grass or garbage is not allowed. Fire bans still apply.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Village of Nakusp, https://www.nakusp.com)  
**Cost:** Burning permit: free. Without a permit: bylaw notice $100; municipal ticket $100.  
**How long:** A burning permit lasts one week and can be renewed. Permits are needed year-round.  
**Where:**
- In person: Village Office (Municipal Hall), 91 1st Street NW, Nakusp, BC (Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.)
- Phone: Fire Chief (Emergency Service Building, 300 8th Ave NW), 250-265-3563

## Key facts

- **Backyard campfires:** A campfire does not need a burning permit. The bylaw does not define "campfire" or give a size limit; any other open-air fire needs a permit.
  - Source: [Fire Regulation Bylaw No. 588, s. 14(a)](https://nakusp.civicweb.net/document/5604/)
  - Official wording: "shall light or start, or knowingly permit or cause to start or ignite any fire, other than a campfire, in the open air"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Burning yard waste:** Allowed with a burning permit, backyard burning only. Permits are needed year-round and last one week (renewable). Daylight hours only; not on Broadway Street between the alleys; fire at least 3 m from combustibles and 30 m from flammable liquids or fuel tanks; no bigger than 1 m square by 1 m high; in a recognized fire pit or on mineral soil; no burning of leaves, grass or garbage. Larger fires need a special permit.
  - Source: [Fire Regulation Bylaw No. 588, s. 14(a)-(d)](https://nakusp.civicweb.net/document/5604/)
  - Official wording: "burning permits are required year-round and will be issued for a period of one week" … "back-yard burning only;" … "fire must be at lease 3 meters from any combustible material; and at least 30 meters from" … "fire must be no more than 1 meter square by 1 meter high;" … "no burning of leaves or grass;" … "fires must be either in a recognized fire pit or on mineral soil;" … "All burning shall be done during daylight hours"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Permit:** Yes. A burning permit from the Public Safety Officer (the Fire Chief or designate). It is free, from the Village Office or directly from the Fire Chief (Emergency Service Building, 300 8th Ave NW, 250.265.3563).
  - Source: [Fire Regulation Bylaw No. 588, s. 1, 14(a)](https://nakusp.civicweb.net/document/5604/)
  - Official wording: "without first obtaining a Burning Permit from the Public Safety Officer" … "‘Public Safety Officer’ means the Fire Chief of his designate"
  - Source: [Licences & Permits, Fire Permit](https://www.nakusp.com/licences-permits)
  - Official wording: "All fire permits are free; however, they are subject to Fire Bans placed by the Province of BC and our local Fire Chief." … "Permits are available in the Village Office or directly by the Fire Chief." … "T 250.265.3563"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Fire bans:** Permits are subject to fire bans placed by the Province of BC and the local Fire Chief. The Public Safety Officer may suspend burning at any time if conditions are unsafe. Provincial bans for the Southeast Fire Centre are linked from the Village's Emergency Services page.
  - Source: [Licences & Permits, Fire Permit](https://www.nakusp.com/licences-permits)
  - Official wording: "they are subject to Fire Bans placed by the Province of BC and our local Fire Chief."
  - Source: [Fire Regulation Bylaw No. 588, s. 14(d)(ix)](https://nakusp.civicweb.net/document/5604/)
  - Official wording: "Public Safety Officer may suspend burning at any time if conditions are deemed to be unsafe;"
  - Source: [Emergency Services, Fire](https://www.nakusp.com/emergencyservices)
  - Official wording: "Southeast Fire Centre – Active Fire Bans"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Instead of burning:** Take it to the RDCK Nakusp Transfer Station, 1420 Hot Springs Road. Yard and garden waste is free in May and October only; user fees apply the rest of the year. The Village does not collect brush and garden trimmings at the curb.
  - Source: [Resource Recovery Facilities, Regional District of Central Kootenay, Nakusp Transfer Station (RDCK Facility Operating Hours)](https://www.rdck.ca/environmental-services/resourcerecovery/rrfacilities/)
  - Official wording: "1420 Hot Springs Road" … "Yard & Garden Waste accepted for free in May and October (only). User fees apply during the rest of the year."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Fine:** Bylaw notice: starting a fire without a permit $100 ($75 within 14 days; $125 after 28 days). Municipal ticket: $100. Court fine up to $200 for a first offence, $1,000 for later ones.
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement and Dispute Adjudication System Bylaw No. 694, 2020 (consolidated), Schedule A, Fire Dept & Fire Reg 14](https://nakusp.civicweb.net/document/7413/)
  - Official wording: "14 Starting a fire without a 100 75 125 No"
  - Source: [Municipal Ticketing Information System Bylaw No. 684, 2018 (consolidated May 2025), Schedule 8](https://nakusp.civicweb.net/document/13964/)
  - Official wording: "-Starting fire without permit 14 $100.00"
  - Source: [Fire Regulation Bylaw No. 588, s. 17](https://nakusp.civicweb.net/document/5604/)
  - Official wording: "liable to a fine not exceeding $200 for the first offence and not exceeding $1,000 for each subsequent offence."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** Nakusp and District Fire Department and Fire Regulations Bylaw No. 588 (2004), s. 14
  - Source: [Fire Regulation Bylaw No. 588, s. 20](https://nakusp.civicweb.net/document/5604/)
  - Official wording: "Nakusp and District Fire Department and Fire Regulations Bylaw No.588" … "THIS 3RD DAY OF MARCH, 2004"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

The [Fire Regulation Bylaw No. 588](<https://nakusp.civicweb.net/document/5604/>) does not require a permit for a campfire, but it does not define "campfire" or give a size limit. Any other open-air fire needs a burning permit from the Public Safety Officer (the Fire Chief or designate). The permit is free.

## Steps

1. Get a permit from the Village Office (91 1st Street NW) or directly from the Fire Chief at the Emergency Service Building, 300 8th Ave NW, 250-265-3563.
2. Check the current provincial fire bans for the Southeast Fire Centre, linked from the Village's [Emergency Services page](<https://www.nakusp.com/emergencyservices>).
3. Burn only within the permit's rules (below).

## Good to know

- Permits are needed year-round and last one week (renewable). Backyard burning only; larger fires need a special permit.
- Daylight hours only. Not on Broadway Street between the alleys.
- At least 3 m from combustibles and 30 m from flammable liquids or fuel tanks. No bigger than 1 m square by 1 m high, in a recognized fire pit or on mineral soil.
- No burning of leaves, grass or garbage. The Waste Control Bylaw No. 500 bans getting rid of waste by burning.
- Permits are subject to fire bans placed by the Province and the local Fire Chief, and the Public Safety Officer may suspend burning at any time if conditions are unsafe.
- Instead of burning: the Village does not collect brush and garden trimmings at the curb. The RDCK Nakusp Transfer Station, 1420 Hot Springs Road, charges user fees except for yard and garden waste, which is free in May and October only.
- Fine without a permit: a bylaw notice is $100 ($75 if paid within 14 days; $125 after 28 days). A municipal ticket is $100. The court fine can be up to $200 for a first offence and $1,000 for later ones. Burning waste is $100 by bylaw notice and by municipal ticket.

## Official forms and pages

- [Fire Regulation Bylaw No. 588 (PDF), Village of Nakusp](https://nakusp.civicweb.net/document/5604/)
- [Emergency Services, Village of Nakusp](https://www.nakusp.com/emergencyservices)

## Related questions

- [Nakusp fireworks rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nakusp/fireworks.md)
- [Nakusp yard waste collection and drop-off](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nakusp/yard-waste.md)
- [Nakusp bylaw fines and how tickets work](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nakusp/bylaw-fines.md)
- [Nakusp noise bylaw: quiet hours, construction hours and fines](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nakusp/noise-rules.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Backyard fire and burning rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/backyard-fire.md)
- [New Denver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-denver/backyard-fire.md)
- [Silverton](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/silverton/backyard-fire.md)
- [Kaslo](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kaslo/backyard-fire.md)
- [Revelstoke](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/revelstoke/backyard-fire.md)
- [Lumby](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lumby/backyard-fire.md)
- [Nelson](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nelson/backyard-fire.md)

## Sources

- [Fire Regulation Bylaw No. 588 (PDF), Village of Nakusp](https://nakusp.civicweb.net/document/5604/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement and Dispute Adjudication System Bylaw No. 694, 2020 (consolidated) (PDF), Village of Nakusp](https://nakusp.civicweb.net/document/7413/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Municipal Ticketing Information System Bylaw No. 684, 2018 (consolidated May 2025) (PDF), Village of Nakusp](https://nakusp.civicweb.net/document/13964/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Waste Control Bylaw No. 500 (consolidated) (PDF), Village of Nakusp](https://nakusp.civicweb.net/document/5613/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Licences & Permits, Village of Nakusp](https://www.nakusp.com/licences-permits) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Emergency Services, Village of Nakusp](https://www.nakusp.com/emergencyservices) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Resource Recovery Facilities, Regional District of Central Kootenay](https://www.rdck.ca/environmental-services/resourcerecovery/rrfacilities/) (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. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with Village of Nakusp. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nakusp/backyard-fire/_