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

# Port Hardy backyard fire and burning rules

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

**Short answer:** In Port Hardy, a campfire in a fire pit or barbecue no larger than 60 cm across needs no permit, but yard-waste piles can be burned only with a District permit, from October 1 to April 30, with no Provincial fire ban. Burning without a permit is a $100 ticket.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (District of Port Hardy, https://porthardy.ca)  
**Cost:** Category A burn permit (piles up to 1 m high and wide): no charge. Category B: $30 for 1 to 3 days. Municipal tickets run from $100 to $250.  
**Where:**
- In person: District of Port Hardy Municipal Hall, 7360 Columbia St., Port Hardy, BC V0N 2P0 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (excluding statutory holidays))
- Phone: District Office, 250-949-6665
- Phone: Fire Department general inquiries, 250-230-0341 (Call 911 for emergencies.)

## Key facts

- **Backyard campfires:** Yes. A recreational fire (campfire) in a fire pit, fireplace or barbecue designed to confine it, not larger than 60 cm across, needs no burning permit. Beach fires are also exempt. Provincial fire bans still apply.
  - Source: [Open Burning and Smoke Control Bylaw No. 15-2012, consolidated March 2019, s. 2 'Recreational Fire', 3.3, 3.4, 10](https://porthardy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/15-2012-Burning-and-Smoke-Control-Consolidated-March-2019.pdf)
  - Official wording: "burning of wood for recreational" … "not larger than 60" … "A burning permit is not required for a recreational fire or a beach fire as defined" … "All Provincial fire bans effective within the Coastal Fire Centre, shall apply within the District boundaries." … "unless expressly banned by the Provincial Government within the Coastal Fire Centre"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Burning yard waste:** Yard-waste piles may be burned only with a permit, only from October 1 to April 30, and only with no Provincial fire ban. Category A: piles up to 1 m by 1 m, 4.6 m from property lines and buildings, 8:00 a.m. to sunset. Category B: larger piles only on mapped lots, 100 m from neighbours.
  - Source: [Open Burning and Smoke Control Bylaw No. 15-2012, consolidated March 2019, s. 3.2, 3.5, 3.7, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1](https://porthardy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/15-2012-Burning-and-Smoke-Control-Consolidated-March-2019.pdf)
  - Official wording: "a permit under this bylaw may carry out open burning of" … "the burning period which is October 1st in one calendar year until April 30th in" … "Category B Open Fires are only permitted on those properties / lands shown filled in" … "at least 4.6 m from all property lines and buildings" … "least 100 m from neighbouring residences and businesses" … "Category A Open Fires shall only be permitted between 8:00 a.m. and sunset"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Permit:** Yes, from the District, except for recreational fires and beach fires. Category A (piles up to 1 m high and wide): no charge. Category B: $30 for 1 to 3 days.
  - Source: [Open Burning and Smoke Control Bylaw No. 15-2012, consolidated March 2019, s. 3.1, 3.3, 9.5](https://porthardy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/15-2012-Burning-and-Smoke-Control-Consolidated-March-2019.pdf)
  - Official wording: "without making application for and obtaining a permit from the District." … "A burning permit is not required for a recreational fire or a beach fire as defined"
  - Source: [User Rates and Fees Bylaw No. 1187-2026, Schedule K, Burning Permit Rates 2026](https://porthardy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/1187-2026-User-Rates-and-Fees-for-2026.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Category A: Open Fire is a fire that burns piled material no larger" … "No charge" … "$30.00 (1-3 days)"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Fire bans:** All Provincial fire bans in the Coastal Fire Centre apply across the whole District; a ban in any part of the District is deemed to apply to all of it. Officers may also suspend permits for hazardous conditions.
  - Source: [Open Burning and Smoke Control Bylaw No. 15-2012, consolidated March 2019, s. 3.4, 9.3](https://porthardy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/15-2012-Burning-and-Smoke-Control-Consolidated-March-2019.pdf)
  - Official wording: "If a fire ban is imposed in any portion of the District it shall be deemed to be imposed within the entire District." … "suspend for such time as it is necessary, any right to burn granted pursuant to this"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Instead of burning:** Yard Waste Depot next to the Public Works yard, open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (grass, hedge clippings, leaves, branches up to 2 inches thick). Also the transfer station. The bylaw requires pursuing alternatives to burning.
  - Source: [Garbage and Recycling, Yard waste row](https://porthardy.ca/community/utilities/garbage/)
  - Official wording: "Yard Waste Depot" … "Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week"
  - Source: [Open Burning and Smoke Control Bylaw No. 15-2012, consolidated March 2019, s. 3.2(c)](https://porthardy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/15-2012-Burning-and-Smoke-Control-Consolidated-March-2019.pdf)
  - Official wording: "every reasonable alternative for reducing or recycling debris has been pursued to"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Fine:** Municipal ticket: burning without a permit $100; burning outside the October 1 to April 30 period, or during a Provincial fire ban, $250; Category A fire too close to buildings $100 (Category B $250); burning prohibited materials $250.
  - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information System Bylaw No. 01-2010, consolidated August 2014, Schedule G, Open Burning and Smoke Control Bylaw No. 15-2012](https://porthardy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/01-2010_mti_consolidated_august_2014.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Failure to obtain permit" … "Burning outside of burning period" … "Burning contrary to Provincial fire ban" … "Burning prohibited materials"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** District of Port Hardy Open Burning and Smoke Control Bylaw No. 15-2012 (consolidated March 2019, includes Bylaws 1020-2014 and 1093-2019). Permit fees: User Rates and Fees Bylaw No. 1187-2026, Schedule K.
  - Source: [Open Burning and Smoke Control Bylaw No. 15-2012, consolidated March 2019, cover](https://porthardy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/15-2012-Burning-and-Smoke-Control-Consolidated-March-2019.pdf)
  - Official wording: "A Bylaw to Provide Regulations" … "For The Control of Burning and Smoke" … "Consolidation: 27th day of March 2019"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

The [Open Burning and Smoke Control Bylaw 15-2012](<https://porthardy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/15-2012-Burning-and-Smoke-Control-Consolidated-March-2019.pdf>) allows a recreational fire (campfire) in a fire pit, fireplace or barbecue designed to confine it, not larger than 60 cm across, with no burning permit. Beach fires are also exempt, and so are cooking fires in a barbecue, hibachi or fire pit of up to one square metre, covered by a grate, for cooking food. Provincial fire bans still apply. Burning a yard-waste pile needs a permit.

## Steps

1. Check that no Provincial fire ban is in effect. All bans in the Coastal Fire Centre apply across the whole District, and the bylaw does not say where to check; the District website carries campfire-ban and fire-danger notices on its home page.
2. For a yard-waste pile, get a permit from the District. Burning is allowed only from October 1 to April 30. Category A: piles up to 1 m by 1 m, 4.6 m from property lines and buildings, 8:00 a.m. to sunset. Category B: larger piles, only on mapped lots, 100 m from neighbours. A non-owner needs the owner's written authorization.
3. Burn only debris from the same parcel and no prohibited materials. The Venting Index for Northern Vancouver Island must be good.
4. A person at least 19 must supervise the fire with emergency equipment.

## Good to know

- Category B fires are limited to 3 consecutive days, with 15 days between fires and at most 5 permits per property each period.
- Officers may suspend permits for hazardous conditions.
- The Yard Waste Depot next to the Public Works yard is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The bylaw requires pursuing alternatives to burning.
- A municipal ticket is $100 for burning without a permit, $250 for burning outside October 1 to April 30 or during a Provincial fire ban, $100 for a Category A fire too close to buildings ($250 for Category B), and $250 for burning prohibited materials ([Municipal Ticket Information System Bylaw 01-2010](<https://porthardy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/01-2010_mti_consolidated_august_2014.pdf>)). Court conviction carries a minimum $500.

## Official forms and pages

- [Open Burning and Smoke Control Bylaw No. 15-2012, consolidated March 2019 (PDF), District of Port Hardy](https://porthardy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/15-2012-Burning-and-Smoke-Control-Consolidated-March-2019.pdf)
- [User Rates and Fees Bylaw No. 1187-2026 (PDF), District of Port Hardy](https://porthardy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/1187-2026-User-Rates-and-Fees-for-2026.pdf)
- [Municipal Ticket Information System Bylaw No. 01-2010, consolidated August 2014 (PDF), District of Port Hardy](https://porthardy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/01-2010_mti_consolidated_august_2014.pdf)

## Related questions

- [Port Hardy yard waste collection and drop-off](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-hardy/yard-waste.md)
- [Port Hardy fireworks rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-hardy/fireworks.md)
- [Port Hardy bylaw fines and how tickets work](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-hardy/bylaw-fines.md)
- [Port Hardy garbage collection: schedule, carts and limits](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-hardy/garbage-collection.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Backyard fire and burning rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/backyard-fire.md)
- [Alert Bay](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/alert-bay/backyard-fire.md)
- [Tahsis](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tahsis/backyard-fire.md)
- [Sayward](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sayward/backyard-fire.md)
- [Gold River](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/gold-river/backyard-fire.md)
- [Campbell River](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/campbell-river/backyard-fire.md)
- [Cumberland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cumberland/backyard-fire.md)

## Sources

- [Open Burning and Smoke Control Bylaw No. 15-2012, consolidated March 2019 (PDF), District of Port Hardy](https://porthardy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/15-2012-Burning-and-Smoke-Control-Consolidated-March-2019.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [User Rates and Fees Bylaw No. 1187-2026 (PDF), District of Port Hardy](https://porthardy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/1187-2026-User-Rates-and-Fees-for-2026.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Municipal Ticket Information System Bylaw No. 01-2010, consolidated August 2014 (PDF), District of Port Hardy](https://porthardy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/01-2010_mti_consolidated_august_2014.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Garbage and Recycling, District of Port Hardy](https://porthardy.ca/community/utilities/garbage/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [FAQs, District of Port Hardy](https://porthardy.ca/faqs/) (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 District of Port Hardy. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-hardy/backyard-fire/_