North Vancouver backyard fire and burning rules
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.
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.Fire Bylaw, 2021, No. 8852 (consolidated), Fire Bylaw s. 5.8(a), (c), (d); Fire Safety and Prevention, Fire Safety and Prevention page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordinga 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; Fires prohibited within the City (minimum $450 fine): - fire pit - outdoor gas fire bowl |
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| 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.Fire Bylaw, 2021, No. 8852 (consolidated), Fire Bylaw s. 5.8(b), (e) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingBurning 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 |
| 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).Fire Bylaw, 2021, No. 8852 (consolidated), Fire Bylaw s. 5.8(e), (f); Fees and Charges Bylaw 2024 No. 9000, Schedule B Fire Permit Fees, Schedule B (Fire Permit Fees) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingThe 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 Permit Processing (up to 2 hours): Hourly Fees for Permit Processing as per above “Hourly Fee” per 2 hours $ 156.21 |
| 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).Fire Bylaw, 2021, No. 8852 (consolidated), Fire Bylaw s. 5.9; Outdoor Burning Regulations, North Vancouver City Fire Department, Outdoor Burning Regulations pamphlet · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingthe 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 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 |
| 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.Green Can / Food Scraps, Curbside Collection · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingCurbside 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. |
| 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.Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw, 2018, No. 8675, Schedule A, Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw, 2018, No. 8675, Schedule A, Fire Bylaw, 2021, No. 8852 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingStart 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 |
| Bylaw | Fire Bylaw, 2021, No. 8852; Metro Vancouver Air Quality Management Bylaw also appliesFire Bylaw, 2021, No. 8852 (consolidated), s. 1; Fire Bylaw, 2021, No. 8852 (consolidated), s. 5.8(d) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wording“Fire Bylaw, 2021, No. 8852” Metro Vancouver Air Quality Bylaw |
How it works
The Fire Bylaw, No. 8852 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
- Use only a permitted appliance (below).
- 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.
- 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: 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
The same question in other places
District of North Vancouver · Belcarra · Port Moody · West Vancouver · Vancouver · Burnaby
Backyard fire and burning rules in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Fire Safety and Prevention, City of North Vancouver (read 2026-11-05)
- Outdoor Burning Regulations, North Vancouver City Fire Department (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- Fire Bylaw, 2021, No. 8852 (consolidated) (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- Fees and Charges Bylaw 2024 No. 9000, Schedule B Fire Permit Fees (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw, 2018, No. 8675, Schedule A (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- Green Can / Food Scraps, City of North Vancouver (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.