New Westminster backyard fire and burning rules
Can I have a backyard fire or burn yard waste in New Westminster?
Short answer
No. New Westminster's Fire Protection Bylaw bans open-air fires and burning yard waste. The exceptions are a contained fire used only to cook food, and certified propane or natural gas fire pits under a fire bulletin. A bylaw notice for a first offence is $200.
Key facts
| Backyard campfires | No open-air fires, except a contained fire used only to cook food and fuelled by propane, natural gas or charcoal; the Fire Director may permit camp fires. A May 2024 fire bulletin also allows certified propane or natural gas fire pits on private property, flame under 15 cm, 3 m from combustibles.Fire Protection Bylaw 6940, 2004 (consolidated September 29, 2025), section 25 and Schedule A, s. 25.1, 25.3; Fire Prevention Bulletin, Outdoor Gas Appliances, Bulletin criteria · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingNo person shall at any time start, light, ignite or burn, or knowingly permit or used solely for the cooking and preparation of food and is fueled by propane, natural gas or charcoal. they may issue permits for camp fires within specified portions of the City. NWFRS will allow the use of fire pits, portable heaters and decorative fire tables provided that the following criteria are met The appliance is fueled by natural gas or propane; The flame length is not to exceed 15 centimeters (6 inches) in height. |
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| Burning yard waste | No. Burning grass and other clippings, leaves, tree and shrub pruning, cuttings and light material, construction-site waste and land-clearing material in the open air is prohibited.Fire Protection Bylaw 6940, 2004 (consolidated September 29, 2025), section 25 and Schedule A, s. 25.2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingThe burning in the open air of garden refuse, in the nature of grass and is hereby prohibited. |
| Permit | Camp fire permits may be issued by the Director of Fire and Rescue Services where conditions are safe, for specified parts of the City. The bylaw lists no permit fee; Schedule A sets $211 as the fee to extinguish an outdoor burning fire.Fire Protection Bylaw 6940, 2004 (consolidated September 29, 2025), section 25 and Schedule A, s. 25.3; Fire Protection Bylaw 6940, 2004 (consolidated September 29, 2025), section 25 and Schedule A, Sch. A · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingWhere the Director of Fire and Rescue Services considers that conditions they may issue permits for camp fires within specified portions of the City. 25 Fee to extinguish “outdoor burning” fire $211.00 |
| Fire bans | Not confirmed. Not found in the official sources that were read. |
| Instead of burning | Yard trimmings and food scraps go in the green cart, collected weekly year round; up to two extra kraft bags can go out on collection day, with extra seasonal collection each spring and fall. Residents can also drop extra yard trimmings off free at the United Boulevard Recycling and Waste Centre with proof of residency.Yard Trimmings and Food Scraps Collection, intro; Yard Trimmings and Food Scraps Collection, Extra Green Material; Yard Trimmings and Food Scraps Collection, United Boulevard · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingYard Trimmings and food scraps will be collected weekly, year round. Maximum two kraft bags per week. Dispose of extra yard trimmings and food scraps year-round for free. |
| Fine | Open-air fire (s. 25.1) or burning building or yard waste (s. 25.2): bylaw notice $200 first offence ($150 if paid within 14 days; $225 late), $400 repeat. Municipal ticket information: $1,000 each.Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 7318, 2009 (consolidated July 29, 2026), Sch. A Part 9; Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw 8077, 2019 (consolidated July 29, 2026), Sch. B Part 9 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingOpen air fire Burn building / yard wastes - repeat offence 400.00 350.00 425.00 NO Burn building / yard Open air fire 1,000.00 Burn building / yard wastes 1,000.00 |
| Bylaw | Fire Protection Bylaw No. 6940, 2004 (section 25)Fire Protection Bylaw 6940, 2004 (consolidated September 29, 2025), section 25 and Schedule A, s. 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingThis Bylaw may be cited for all purposes as "Fire Protection Bylaw No.6940, 2004.” |
How it works
Section 25 of the Fire Protection Bylaw 6940 bans open-air fires. The exception is a contained fire used only to cook food and fuelled by propane, natural gas or charcoal. The Fire Director may permit camp fires. A May 2024 fire bulletin also allows certified propane or natural gas fire pits on private property, with a flame under 15 cm and 3 m from anything combustible. The bylaw does not mention fire pits or sizes. It also bans burning grass and other clippings, leaves, tree and shrub pruning, cuttings and light material, construction-site waste and land-clearing material in the open air.
Steps
- For cooking, use a propane, natural gas or charcoal appliance, such as a barbecue.
- Do not burn yard waste. Put yard trimmings in the green cart, collected weekly year round. Up to two extra kraft bags can go out on collection day, and extra yard trimmings can be dropped off free at the United Boulevard Recycling and Waste Centre with proof of residency.
- For a camp fire permit, ask Fire and Rescue Services at 604-519-1000. The Director of Fire and Rescue Services may issue camp fire permits for specified parts of the City where conditions are safe. The bylaw lists no permit fee, and how to apply is not stated.
Good to know
- Open-air fire or burning building or yard waste: a bylaw notice is $200 for a first offence ($150 if paid within 14 days) and $400 for a repeat; a municipal ticket is $1,000.
- The bylaw's Schedule A sets $211 as the fee to extinguish an outdoor burning fire.
- Open-air fires are already prohibited year round, so the City has no separate fire-ban procedure that we found.
- Call 9-1-1 for any fire that is out of control.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Burnaby · Coquitlam · Port Coquitlam · Port Moody · Belcarra · Surrey
Backyard fire and burning rules in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Fire Protection Bylaw 6940, 2004 (consolidated September 29, 2025), section 25 and Schedule A (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- Fire Prevention Bulletin, Outdoor Gas Appliances (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- Seasonal Fire Safety, City of New Westminster (read 2026-11-05)
- Yard Trimmings and Food Scraps Collection, City of New Westminster (read 2026-11-05)
- Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 7318, 2009 (consolidated July 29, 2026) (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw 8077, 2019 (consolidated July 29, 2026) (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 6 of 7 facts was matched to the official text; 1 could not be confirmed. How answers are checked.