Port Hardy backyard fire and burning rules
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.
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.Open Burning and Smoke Control Bylaw No. 15-2012, consolidated March 2019, s. 2 'Recreational Fire', 3.3, 3.4, 10 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingburning 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 |
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| 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.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 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordinga 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 |
| 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.Open Burning and Smoke Control Bylaw No. 15-2012, consolidated March 2019, s. 3.1, 3.3, 9.5; User Rates and Fees Bylaw No. 1187-2026, Schedule K, Burning Permit Rates 2026 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingwithout 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 Category A: Open Fire is a fire that burns piled material no larger No charge $30.00 (1-3 days) |
| 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.Open Burning and Smoke Control Bylaw No. 15-2012, consolidated March 2019, s. 3.4, 9.3 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingIf 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 |
| 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.Garbage and Recycling, Yard waste row; Open Burning and Smoke Control Bylaw No. 15-2012, consolidated March 2019, s. 3.2(c) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingYard Waste Depot Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week every reasonable alternative for reducing or recycling debris has been pursued to |
| 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.Municipal Ticket Information System Bylaw No. 01-2010, consolidated August 2014, Schedule G, Open Burning and Smoke Control Bylaw No. 15-2012 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingFailure to obtain permit Burning outside of burning period Burning contrary to Provincial fire ban Burning prohibited materials |
| 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.Open Burning and Smoke Control Bylaw No. 15-2012, consolidated March 2019, cover · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingA Bylaw to Provide Regulations For The Control of Burning and Smoke Consolidation: 27th day of March 2019 |
How it works
The Open Burning and Smoke Control Bylaw 15-2012 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
- 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.
- 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.
- Burn only debris from the same parcel and no prohibited materials. The Venting Index for Northern Vancouver Island must be good.
- 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). Court conviction carries a minimum $500.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Alert Bay · Tahsis · Sayward · Gold River · Campbell River · Cumberland
Backyard fire and burning rules in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Open Burning and Smoke Control Bylaw No. 15-2012, consolidated March 2019 (PDF), District of Port Hardy (read 2026-11-08)
- User Rates and Fees Bylaw No. 1187-2026 (PDF), District of Port Hardy (read 2026-11-08)
- Municipal Ticket Information System Bylaw No. 01-2010, consolidated August 2014 (PDF), District of Port Hardy (read 2026-11-08)
- Garbage and Recycling, District of Port Hardy (read 2026-11-08)
- FAQs, District of Port Hardy (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. How answers are checked.