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

# Northern Rockies backyard fire and burning rules

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

**Short answer:** In Northern Rockies Regional Municipality, open fires are banned unless the Fire Bylaw allows them, and burning needs a free permit from Northern Rockies Fire Rescue. Neither the bylaw nor the website mentions a backyard fire pit. Cooking fires, grills and barbecues are exempt. Check fire bans before burning.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Northern Rockies Regional Municipality, https://www.northernrockies.ca)  
**Cost:** Burn permit: free. Burning household garbage: $200 bylaw notice ($180 if paid within 21 days, $220 after 32 days).  
**How long:** A campfire permit covers a campfire of eight hours maximum in designated recreational areas.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Northern Rockies Fire Rescue (burn permits), 250-774-3955 (8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday to Friday, except statutory holidays)
- In person: Fire Rescue Station, 5013 Cordova Way, Fort Nelson
- Phone: Burn registration number outside the Fire Protection Area, 1.888.797.1717

## Key facts

- **Backyard campfires:** Open fires are banned unless the Fire Bylaw allows them. The Fire Chief may issue a permit for campfires of eight hours maximum in designated recreational areas. Small, confined cooking fires, grills and barbecues are exempt.
  - Source: [Town of Fort Nelson Fire Bylaw No. 618, 2002, Northern Rockies Regional Municipality, s. 11(6), 12(1), 14(1)](https://nr.civicweb.net/document/238528/)
  - Official wording: "Except as provided in this bylaw, no person shall light, ignite or start, or allow or cause to be lighted, ignited or started, a fire or any kind whatsoever in the open air." … "for campfires of eight(8) hours maximum duration, in designated" … "small & confined fires used for cooking foods, including grills &"
  - Source: [Fire Bans and Burn Permits, Northern Rockies Regional Municipality, Open Air Burning Permits](https://www.northernrockies.ca/community-safety/fire-rescue/fire-bans-burn-permits)
  - Official wording: "and for campfires in designated recreational areas."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Burning yard waste:** Needs a burn permit from Northern Rockies Fire Rescue. Permits cover brush, stumps, slash and light clearing material, and an outdoor incinerator for dry garden refuse and paper only. No tar, shingles, plastic or heavy-smoke materials; a competent person must stay in charge. Burning household garbage is banned.
  - Source: [Town of Fort Nelson Fire Bylaw No. 618, 2002, Northern Rockies Regional Municipality, s. 12(1)](https://nr.civicweb.net/document/238528/)
  - Official wording: "may issue a permit for open air burning of" … "brush, stumps, slash, and light material resulting from the clearing of land" … "tar, asphalt, shingles, battery boxes, plastic materials or any similar" … "The Fire Chief or his designate may issue a permit for the use of an outdoor incinerator on the conditions that:" … "only dry garden refuse & paper is burned in the outdoor incinerator."
  - Source: [Fire Bans and Burn Permits, Northern Rockies Regional Municipality, Open Air Burning Permits](https://www.northernrockies.ca/community-safety/fire-rescue/fire-bans-burn-permits)
  - Official wording: "under the Open Burning Smoke Control Regulation, no burning of construction material or debris is permitted"
  - Source: [Property Maintenance Bylaw No. 12, 2009 (PDF, consolidated June 2018), Northern Rockies Regional Municipality, s. 3(h)](https://nr.civicweb.net/document/9576/)
  - Official wording: "No owner or occupier of real property shall foul or contaminate the atmosphere by burning household garbage."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Permit:** Yes, free from Northern Rockies Fire Rescue (8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday to Friday except statutory holidays). Apply by calling 250-774-3955 or at the Fire Rescue Station, 5013 Cordova Way. Outside the Fire Protection Area, call 1.888.797.1717 for a burn registration number (also needed for any Category 3 fire).
  - Source: [Fire Bans and Burn Permits, Northern Rockies Regional Municipality, Open Air Burning Permits](https://www.northernrockies.ca/community-safety/fire-rescue/fire-bans-burn-permits)
  - Official wording: "Burn Permits are available free of charge from the Northern Rockies Fire Rescue between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Monday to Friday (except statutory holidays)." … "To apply please call the Non Emergency Fire Rescue line at 250-774-3955." … "must first obtain a burn registration number by calling 1.888.797.1717"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Fire bans:** Fire restrictions are set by the BC Wildfire Service, Prince George Fire Centre. Check the BC Wildfire Service Fire Bans and Restrictions page before burning, even with a permit.
  - Source: [Fire Bans and Burn Permits, Northern Rockies Regional Municipality, Fire Bans and Restrictions](https://www.northernrockies.ca/community-safety/fire-rescue/fire-bans-burn-permits)
  - Official wording: "the NRRM is often subject to fire restrictions that are put into place by the BC Wildfire Service - Prince George Fire Centre." … "Before lighting a fire, even if the burn category is not currently prohibited"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Instead of burning:** Yard and garden waste (grass, leaves, branches under 75 mm) can go in the weekly garbage cart, or be dropped off free in the designated green bins at the Northern Rockies landfill, 3100 55th Street, Fort Nelson (250.774.7194).
  - Source: [Garbage and Recycling | Northern Rockies Regional Municipality, Vermicompost](https://www.northernrockies.ca/resident-services/garbage-recycling)
  - Official wording: "Green waste can be dropped off at the landfill in designated green bins free-of-charge."
  - Source: [Garbage and Recycling | Northern Rockies Regional Municipality, Landfill and Landfill Hours](https://www.northernrockies.ca/resident-services/garbage-recycling)
  - Official wording: "3100 55th Street, Fort Nelson | P: 250.774.7194"
  - Source: [https://nr.civicweb.net/document/84129/, s. 2 Solid waste, Yard and garden waste](https://nr.civicweb.net/document/84129/)
  - Official wording: "construction waste, yard and garden waste, processed yard and garden waste and" … "stocks, shrubs and shrub and tree branches less than 75 millimetres in diameter."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Fine:** Bylaw notice $200 ($180 if paid within 21 days; $220 after 32 days) for burning household garbage. The Fire Bylaw sets no bylaw-notice amount; on conviction it allows a fine up to $2,500, up to six months in jail, or both.
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 59, 2011 (PDF, consolidated May 2024), Northern Rockies Regional Municipality, Schedule A, Property Maintenance](https://nr.civicweb.net/document/59372/)
  - Official wording: "Fouling atmosphere by burning 3(h) $200 $180 $220"
  - Source: [Town of Fort Nelson Fire Bylaw No. 618, 2002, Northern Rockies Regional Municipality, s. 17(1)](https://nr.civicweb.net/document/238528/)
  - Official wording: "a fine of not more than two thousand five hundred dollars($2500)"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** Town of Fort Nelson Fire Bylaw No. 618, 2002 (listed by the NRRM as "Fire Services"); Property Maintenance Bylaw No. 12, 2009 (burning household garbage).
  - Source: [Town of Fort Nelson Fire Bylaw No. 618, 2002, Northern Rockies Regional Municipality, s. 1(1)](https://nr.civicweb.net/document/238528/)
  - Official wording: "Town of Fort Nelson Fire Bylaw No. 618, 2002"
  - Source: [Property Maintenance Bylaw No. 12, 2009 (PDF, consolidated June 2018), Northern Rockies Regional Municipality, cover](https://nr.civicweb.net/document/9576/)
  - Official wording: "Property Maintenance Bylaw No. 12, 2009"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

The [Town of Fort Nelson Fire Bylaw No. 618, 2002](https://nr.civicweb.net/document/238528/) (listed by the municipality as "Fire Services") bans open fires unless it allows them. It applies inside the Fort Nelson Fire Protection Boundary. The Fire Chief may issue a permit for campfires of eight hours maximum in designated recreational areas. Burning household garbage is banned under the [Property Maintenance Bylaw](https://nr.civicweb.net/document/9576/). Provincial rules, including the BC Open Burning Smoke Control Regulation, also apply.

## Steps

1. Call Northern Rockies Fire Rescue at 250-774-3955, or visit the Fire Rescue Station at 5013 Cordova Way, to get a free permit.
2. Outside the Fire Protection Area, call 1.888.797.1717 for a burn registration number. It is also needed for any Category 3 fire.
3. Before burning, check the BC Wildfire Service Fire Bans and Restrictions page, even with a permit.

## Good to know

- Permits cover brush, stumps, slash and light clearing material, and an outdoor incinerator for dry garden refuse and paper only. No tar, shingles, plastic or heavy-smoke materials. A competent person must stay in charge.
- Permits are subject to weather and other restrictions. Do not burn when venting conditions are Poor or Fair.
- Small confined cooking fires, grills and barbecues are exempt.
- Instead of burning, yard and garden waste can go in the weekly garbage cart or free to the green bins at the landfill (see the yard-waste answer).
- On conviction the Fire Bylaw allows a fine up to $2,500, up to six months in jail, or both.

## Official forms and pages

- [Town of Fort Nelson Fire Bylaw No. 618, 2002 (PDF)](https://nr.civicweb.net/document/238528/)
- [Fire Bans and Burn Permits](https://www.northernrockies.ca/community-safety/fire-rescue/fire-bans-burn-permits)
- [BC Wildfire Service, Fire Bans and Restrictions](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/wildfire-status/prevention/fire-bans-and-restrictions)

## Related questions

- [Northern Rockies yard waste collection and drop-off](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/northern-rockies/yard-waste.md)
- [Northern Rockies unsightly property rules and how to report](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/northern-rockies/unsightly-property.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Backyard fire and burning rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/backyard-fire.md)
- [Hudson's Hope](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/hudsons-hope/backyard-fire.md)
- [Granisle](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/granisle/backyard-fire.md)
- [Mackenzie](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mackenzie/backyard-fire.md)
- [Fort St. John](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fort-st-john/backyard-fire.md)
- [Chetwynd](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/chetwynd/backyard-fire.md)
- [Smithers](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/smithers/backyard-fire.md)

## Sources

- [Town of Fort Nelson Fire Bylaw No. 618, 2002 (PDF), Northern Rockies Regional Municipality](https://nr.civicweb.net/document/238528/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Fire Bans and Burn Permits, Northern Rockies Regional Municipality](https://www.northernrockies.ca/community-safety/fire-rescue/fire-bans-burn-permits) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Property Maintenance Bylaw No. 12, 2009 (PDF, consolidated June 2018), Northern Rockies Regional Municipality](https://nr.civicweb.net/document/9576/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 59, 2011 (PDF, consolidated May 2024), Northern Rockies Regional Municipality](https://nr.civicweb.net/document/59372/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Fire Bans and Restrictions, BC Wildfire Service](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/wildfire-status/prevention/fire-bans-and-restrictions) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Garbage and Recycling | Northern Rockies Regional Municipality](https://www.northernrockies.ca/resident-services/garbage-recycling) (read 2026-11-08)
- [https://nr.civicweb.net/document/84129/](https://nr.civicweb.net/document/84129/) (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 Northern Rockies Regional Municipality. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/northern-rockies/backyard-fire/_