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

# North Vancouver backyard fire and burning rules

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

**Short answer:** No. In the City of North Vancouver, Fire Bylaw 8852 bans open-air fires of any kind, including backyard fires, fire pits, chimineas and burning for land clearing. Natural gas or propane burners, patio heaters, barbecues and gas fire bowls are allowed. Starting an open-air fire is a $450 bylaw notice.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of North Vancouver, https://www.cnv.org)  
**Cost:** Bylaw notice for starting an open-air fire $450 ($400 if paid early, $500 late). Burning land for clearing $300. Unpermitted cooking fire $200. Smoke from open-air burning or a smoker $200. No fee is stated for an open-air burning permit.  
**Where:**
- Phone: North Vancouver City Fire Department office, 604-980-5021 (Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)
- Email: Fire Department, fire@cnv.org
- In person: Fire Hall No. 1, 165 East 13th Street, North Vancouver, BC V7L 2L3

## Key facts

- **Backyard campfires:** No. Lighting a fire of any kind in the open air is prohibited unless the bylaw allows it. The City lists yard, beach or park fires, fire pits, chimineas, cooking fires, outdoor fireplaces and pizza ovens as prohibited. Solid-fuel outdoor fireplaces and pizza ovens built and inspected under a municipal building permit may operate. Natural gas or propane burners, patio heaters, barbecues and gas fire bowls are permitted.
  - Source: [Fire Bylaw, 2021, No. 8852 (consolidated), Fire Bylaw s. 5.8(a), (c), (d)](https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Bylaws/Consolidated/8852-C.pdf)
  - Official wording: "a person must not light, ignite, start" … "or cause to be lighted, ignited or started, a fire of any kind whatsoever in the open" … "All exterior solid fuel-fired appliances or devices are prohibited, including pizza" … "ovens and outdoor fireplaces that were built without a municipal Building Permit;"
  - Source: [Fire Safety and Prevention, Fire Safety and Prevention page](https://www.cnv.org/Home-Property/Fire-Department/Fire-Safety-Prevention)
  - Official wording: "Fires prohibited within the City (minimum $450 fine):" … "- fire pit" … "- outdoor gas fire bowl"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Burning yard waste:** No. Burning for land clearing or construction is prohibited, and open-air fires of any kind are banned except as the bylaw allows. The Fire Chief may issue a permit for open-air burning, which must also meet the Metro Vancouver Air Quality Bylaw.
  - Source: [Fire Bylaw, 2021, No. 8852 (consolidated), Fire Bylaw s. 5.8(b), (e)](https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Bylaws/Consolidated/8852-C.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Burning for land clearing and/or construction purposes is prohibited;" … "The Fire Chief may issue a Permit for open air burning fires." … "such a Permit has been issued must comply with the Metro Vancouver Air Quality"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Permit:** Only the Fire Chief may issue a permit for open-air burning; the permit holder must follow the Metro Vancouver Air Quality Bylaw, and the permit can be suspended if wind, weather or fire danger make burning unsafe. No fee specific to this permit is stated (general Fire Bylaw permit processing is $156.21 per 2 hours).
  - Source: [Fire Bylaw, 2021, No. 8852 (consolidated), Fire Bylaw s. 5.8(e), (f)](https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Bylaws/Consolidated/8852-C.pdf)
  - Official wording: "The Fire Chief may issue a Permit for open air burning fires." … "The Fire Chief or designate may suspend an open air fire Permit if on the date"
  - Source: [Fees and Charges Bylaw 2024 No. 9000, Schedule B Fire Permit Fees, Schedule B (Fire Permit Fees)](https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Bylaws/Consolidated/9000-C.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Permit Processing (up to 2 hours):" … "Hourly Fees for Permit Processing as per above “Hourly Fee” per 2 hours $ 156.21"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fire bans:** The Fire Chief may order closure of trails, camping areas and other facilities near forests, and may order that no one light or keep a campfire or a fire in a grill, barbecue or other outdoor appliance that uses wood, charcoal or briquettes. Check with the North Vancouver City Fire Department (604-980-5021).
  - Source: [Fire Bylaw, 2021, No. 8852 (consolidated), Fire Bylaw s. 5.9](https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Bylaws/Consolidated/8852-C.pdf)
  - Official wording: "the Fire Chief may:" … "Order that a person not light, ignite, start, or maintain, or allow or cause to be" … "lighted, ignited, started or maintained, a campfire or other kind of fire outdoors or"
  - Source: [Outdoor Burning Regulations, North Vancouver City Fire Department, Outdoor Burning Regulations pamphlet](https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Fire/Outdoor-Burning-Regulations.pdf)
  - Official wording: "165 E. 13th Street North Vancouver, BC V7L 2L3 Phone: 604.980.5021 Fax: 604.980.3457 fire@cnv.org OUTDOOR GAS FIRE BOWLS 1128846-v2"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Instead of burning:** Put yard trimmings in the weekly curbside Green Can (kraft bags or tied bundles also accepted, up to six containers, bags or bundles a week). Green waste can also be dropped off for a fee at the North Shore Recycling & Waste Centre, 30 Riverside Drive West.
  - Source: [Green Can / Food Scraps, Curbside Collection](https://www.cnv.org/Home-Property/Garbage-Recycling-Green-Can/Green-Can-Food-Scraps)
  - Official wording: "Curbside Green Cans are collected every week by City crews" … "There is a weekly limit of six Green Cans, bags, or bundles, with a maximum weight of 20kg (45lb) each."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** Starting an open-air fire: $450 (early $400, late $500). Burning land for clearing: $300 (early $225, late $450). Unpermitted cooking fire: $200. Smoke from open-air burning or from a smoker or outdoor cooking fire: $200.
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw, 2018, No. 8675, Schedule A, Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw, 2018, No. 8675, Schedule A, Fire Bylaw, 2021, No. 8852](https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Bylaws/Consolidated/8675-C.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Start open air fire 5.8(a) 450 400 500 NO N/A" … "Burn land for clearing 5.8(b) 300 225 450 NO N/A" … "Unpermitted cooking fire 5.8(c) 200 150 300 NO N/A" … "Smoke from open air burning 5.8(e) 200 150 300 NO N/A"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Fire Bylaw, 2021, No. 8852; Metro Vancouver Air Quality Management Bylaw also applies
  - Source: [Fire Bylaw, 2021, No. 8852 (consolidated), s. 1](https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Bylaws/Consolidated/8852-C.pdf)
  - Official wording: "“Fire Bylaw, 2021, No. 8852”"
  - Source: [Fire Bylaw, 2021, No. 8852 (consolidated), s. 5.8(d)](https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Bylaws/Consolidated/8852-C.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Metro Vancouver Air Quality Bylaw"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The [Fire Bylaw, No. 8852](https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Bylaws/Consolidated/8852-C.pdf) prohibits lighting a fire of any kind in the open air unless the bylaw allows it, and prohibits burning for land clearing or construction. The City lists yard, beach or park fires, fire pits, chimineas, cooking fires, outdoor fireplaces and pizza ovens as prohibited, so a wood fire pit is not allowed. Metro Vancouver's Air Quality Management Bylaw also applies.

## Steps

1. Use only a permitted appliance (below).
2. For yard trimmings, use the weekly Green Can instead of burning. Green waste can also be dropped off for a fee at the North Shore Recycling & Waste Centre, 30 Riverside Drive West.
3. If you think you need an exemption, ask the Fire Department at 604-980-5021 or fire@cnv.org. Only the Fire Chief may issue a permit for open-air burning, and the holder must follow the Metro Vancouver bylaw.

## Good to know

- Permitted: natural gas or propane burners, patio heaters, barbecues and gas fire bowls. Solid-fuel outdoor fireplaces and pizza ovens built and inspected under a municipal building permit may operate.
- A permit can be suspended if wind, weather or fire danger make burning unsafe.
- The Fire Chief may order closure of trails, camping areas and other facilities near forests, and may order that no one light or keep a fire in a grill, barbecue or other appliance using wood, charcoal or briquettes. Check with the Fire Department.
- Bylaw notices under the [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw](https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Bylaws/Consolidated/8675-C.pdf): open-air fire $450, burning land for clearing $300, unpermitted cooking fire $200, smoke from open-air burning or a smoker $200.

## Official forms and pages

- [Outdoor Burning Regulations (PDF)](https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Fire/Outdoor-Burning-Regulations.pdf)
- [Fire Safety and Prevention (Outdoor Burning Restrictions)](https://www.cnv.org/Home-Property/Fire-Department/Fire-Safety-Prevention)
- [Fire Bylaw, 2021, No. 8852 (PDF)](https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Bylaws/Consolidated/8852-C.pdf)

## Related questions

- [North Vancouver fireworks rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver/fireworks.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Backyard fire and burning rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/backyard-fire.md)
- [District of North Vancouver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver-district/backyard-fire.md)
- [Belcarra](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/belcarra/backyard-fire.md)
- [Port Moody](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-moody/backyard-fire.md)
- [West Vancouver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-vancouver/backyard-fire.md)
- [Vancouver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vancouver/backyard-fire.md)
- [Burnaby](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/burnaby/backyard-fire.md)

## Sources

- [Fire Safety and Prevention, City of North Vancouver](https://www.cnv.org/Home-Property/Fire-Department/Fire-Safety-Prevention) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Outdoor Burning Regulations, North Vancouver City Fire Department (PDF)](https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Fire/Outdoor-Burning-Regulations.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Fire Bylaw, 2021, No. 8852 (consolidated) (PDF)](https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Bylaws/Consolidated/8852-C.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Fees and Charges Bylaw 2024 No. 9000, Schedule B Fire Permit Fees (PDF)](https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Bylaws/Consolidated/9000-C.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw, 2018, No. 8675, Schedule A (PDF)](https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Bylaws/Consolidated/8675-C.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Green Can / Food Scraps, City of North Vancouver](https://www.cnv.org/Home-Property/Garbage-Recycling-Green-Can/Green-Can-Food-Scraps) (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 North Vancouver. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver/backyard-fire/_