Port Alberni backyard fire and burning rules
Can I have a backyard fire or burn yard waste in Port Alberni?
Short answer
Yes, small campfires are allowed in Port Alberni year-round unless the Fire Chief suspends outdoor burning. A campfire must be no bigger than 0.5 m high and wide and kept 3 m from anything that burns. Burning yard waste and other open burning is prohibited. Check for a suspension first.
Key facts
| Backyard campfires | Campfires are allowed year-round unless the Fire Chief suspends outdoor burning: a small contained fire no bigger than 0.5 m high and 0.5 m wide, 3 m from grass, shrubs, fences, combustibles and buildings. A competent adult must stay with it, with 8 litres of water or a hose. Dry firewood, branches and stems only; no burn barrels.Fire Control Bylaw No. 5122, 2024, s. 2, s. 16.1(b)-(g); Outdoor Burning Regulations · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingnot exceeding 0.5 metres in height Campfires are allowed throughout the year open air burning must not take place within 3 metres of any grass, shrubbery, or a competent adult person shall remain in charge at the site of such fire at all times Permissible Campfire fuels include dry firewood, branches and stems including burn barrels the Fire Chief may, at their discretion, suspend any or all outdoor burning Burning must take place during daylight hours only. |
|---|---|
| Burning yard waste | No. Burning yard waste, grass cuttings, leaves, vegetable matter, manufactured material (including lumber), land-clearing debris, construction waste or demolition materials is prohibited. The Fire Chief can authorize burning to reduce hazardous conditions, for fire training or for the good of the City.Fire Control Bylaw No. 5122, 2024, s. 16.1(f), (h), 16.2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingno person shall burn in the open air any manufactured material, including open air burning is prohibited for land clearing debris, wastes from construction, and open air burning is allowed where authorized by the |
| Permit | None set. The bylaw and the City's pages describe no permit or fee for a campfire.Read: Fire Control Bylaw No. 5122, 2024 |
| Fire bans | The Fire Chief may suspend any or all outdoor burning for public nuisance or safety, including air quality and fire spread risk; during a suspension no one may carry on open burning in the City. Check the City's Burning Regulations page or call the Fire Department at 250-724-1351.Fire Control Bylaw No. 5122, 2024, s. 16.3; Burning Regulations, Contact · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingthe Fire Chief may, at their discretion, suspend any or in such event no person shall carry on open Non-Emergency Contact Fire Hall, 3699 10th Avenue Port Alberni BC V9Y 4W3 #### Telephone Direct: 250-724-1351 |
| Instead of burning | Yard waste goes in the green organics cart collected weekly (branches up to 2 ft long and 2 in. thick), or can be taken to the Alberni Valley Sort'nGo Centre (residential branches $10 per load). The City also suggests recycling, shredding or composting.Organics, Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District; Bylaw R1029-10, Alberni Valley Landfill Tipping Fee and Regulation Amendment, 2026, Schedule A; Burning Regulations · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingYard waste is accepted too. Organics $115.00 per tonne $5 minimum. $5 per 20L bucket Residential Branches $10.00 per load Controlled Waste Tipping Fee Other Charges Construction/Demolition Waste $185.00 per tonne $15.00 minimum The best practice is to explore other options such as recycling, shredding or composting. |
| Fine | Bylaw notice: $250 for most breaches (no authorization, campfire over 0.5 m, location, no competent adult, banned material or appliance; $187.50 early, $312.50 late); $500 for a fire escaping, prohibited burning or burning during a suspension ($375 early; $500 late). The bylaw's own ticket schedule lists the same amounts.Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 5128, 2025 (consolidated), Schedule A-10; Fire Control Bylaw No. 5122, 2024, Schedule of fines · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingOutdoor fire without authorization $250.00 $187.50 $312.50 Prohibited burning $500.00 $375.00 $500.00 Outdoor burning during suspension $500.00 $375.00 $500.00 Outdoor fire without authorization 16.1 (a) $250 Outdoor burning during suspension 16.3 $500 |
| Bylaw | Fire Control Bylaw No. 5122, 2024 (s. 16, Outdoor Burning)Fire Control Bylaw No. 5122, 2024, s. 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingFire Control Bylaw No. 5122, |
How it works
Under s. 16 of the Fire Control Bylaw No. 5122, campfires are allowed year-round unless the Fire Chief suspends outdoor burning. A campfire must be a small contained fire no bigger than 0.5 m high and 0.5 m wide, 3 m from grass, shrubs, fences, combustibles and buildings. A competent adult must stay with it, with 8 litres of water or a hose at hand. Burn only dry firewood, branches and stems; burn barrels are not allowed. The bylaw and the City's pages describe no permit or fee for a campfire.
Steps
- Before you light anything, check the City's Burning Regulations page or call the Fire Department at 250-724-1351 to see whether outdoor burning is suspended. A suspension has been used (one began May 7, 2026), and it covers campfires.
- If burning is allowed, follow the size, distance and supervision rules above.
Good to know
- Open burning of yard waste, grass cuttings, leaves, vegetable matter, manufactured material (including lumber), land-clearing debris, construction waste or demolition materials is prohibited. The Fire Chief can authorize burning to reduce hazardous conditions, for fire training or for the good of the City.
- The Fire Chief may suspend any or all outdoor burning for public nuisance or safety, including air quality and fire spread risk. During a suspension no one may carry on open burning in the City.
- The City's web summary also mentions daylight hours for campfires; the bylaw text does not, so confirm with the Fire Department.
- Instead of burning, put yard waste in the green organics cart (collected weekly; branches up to 2 ft long and 2 in. thick), or take it to the Alberni Valley Sort'nGo Centre (residential branches $10 per load).
- A bylaw notice is $250 for most breaches ($187.50 if paid within 14 days, $312.50 if paid late), or $500 for a fire that escapes, prohibited burning, or burning during a suspension ($375 early, $500 late), under the Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 5128. The Fire Control Bylaw's own schedule lists the same amounts.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Qualicum Beach · Parksville · Cumberland · Comox · Courtenay · Lantzville
Backyard fire and burning rules in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Fire Control Bylaw No. 5122, 2024 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- Burning Regulations, City of Port Alberni (read 2026-11-05)
- Outdoor Burning Regulations, City of Port Alberni (read 2026-11-05)
- Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 5128, 2025 (consolidated) (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- Organics, Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District (read 2026-11-05)
- Bylaw R1029-10, Alberni Valley Landfill Tipping Fee and Regulation Amendment, 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 is recorded as not set. How answers are checked.