North Cowichan backyard fire and burning rules

Can I have a backyard fire or burn yard waste in North Cowichan?

North Cowichan, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-06

How it works

The Fire Protection Bylaw allows two kinds of backyard fire.

Campfire (recreational fire pit): no permit is needed if the pit is non-combustible, has a tight-fitting perforated metal or wire-screen lid (openings no more than 1 cm²), is no more than 0.5 m³, is at least 2 m from a property line and 5 m from a building or flammable material, and sits on a non-combustible base. The Municipality's page adds that campfires under 60 cm across are allowed if there is no fire ban, and to keep a shovel, rake and connected garden hose on hand. No open fires are allowed in the Municipal Forest Reserve.

Burning yard waste (open burning): allowed only with a free Open Burning Permit, only March 15 to April 15 and September 15 to November 30, and only when the Ventilation Index is "good". It must be outside the Urban Containment Boundary, or inside it only on lots larger than 2 acres. Fire must be 4 m from buildings and 10 m from property lines, in daylight hours only, as one hand-piled fire smaller than 2 m high by 2 m wide, with a shovel, rake and hose on hand. Burn only untreated natural wood and brush from that property. Normal farm practices are exempt.

Steps

1. Check for a current fire ban before any fire. The Municipality generally follows BC Wildfire Service but may extend a campfire ban for local conditions. Call Bylaw Services at 250-746-3108.
2. For open burning, fill in the Open Burning Permit Application Form (plus an agent authorization form if you do not own the property). Send it to bylaw@northcowichan.ca, mail it, or bring it to Bylaw Services at 7030 Trans-Canada Highway.
3. Check the Ventilation Index on the provincial venting index web page or at 1-888-281-2992 on the day.

Good to know

• The Municipality's page tells people to compost, use a wood chipper, or take yard waste to the CVRD's Bings Creek or Peerless Road depot. The weekly curbside organics cart also takes small branches.
• Burning outside the rules can also be fined under the provincial Open Burning Smoke Control Regulation.
• Fines: for unpermitted open burning a bylaw notice is $250 ($125 if paid within 14 days, $270 after 28 days) and a municipal ticket is $500. Breaking the burning conditions is $250 by bylaw notice and $500 by municipal ticket. Fire pit breaches are $250 either way.
• The Municipality's web page says a second offence is $500 and a third $1,000, and the ticket schedules cite old section numbers. Confirm the current amount with Bylaw Services.