Port Moody backyard fire and burning rules

Can I have a backyard fire or burn yard waste?

Port Moody, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-05

Short answer

Generally no. The City of Port Moody says all open fires, including fire pits and campfires, are banned, and burning yard waste is never allowed. The bylaw lists limited exceptions, including a permit from the Fire Chief. Gas or liquid-fuel fire pits and charcoal briquette barbecues are allowed.

Key facts

Backyard campfires	No. The bylaw bans any fire in the open air, except a CSA-certified barbecue, food-preparation device or outdoor heater, or a fire under a Fire Chief permit. The City says all open fires, including fire pits and campfires, are banned; gas or liquid-fuel fire pits and tables and charcoal briquette BBQs are allowed.Sources differ: The City page says all open fires are banned, while the bylaw allows a fire under a Fire Chief permit; no recreational campfire permit process or size rules were found. Wood fires are prohibited at any time under s. 20.2(d). Fire Rescue: 604.469.7795.Fire Protection and Emergency Response Bylaw No. 2835 (consolidated PDF), s. 20.1; Outdoor Burning Ban · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording A person must not start or ignite a fire of any kind whatsoever in the open air, or permit, meets the standard for certification by the Canadian Standards Association in accordance with a permit issued by the Fire Chief under this Bylaw. All open fires, including fire pits and campfires, are banned in the City of Port Moody Residents can use BBQs, fire tables, and fire pits that use liquid or gas fuels. Charcoal briquette BBQs are also permitted.
Burning yard waste	Not allowed. The bylaw bans open-air fires and at any time bans burning garden refuse (grass, leaves, prunings), construction waste, land clearing debris, wood, garbage, rubber, tires or plastic.Fire Protection and Emergency Response Bylaw No. 2835 (consolidated PDF), s. 20.1, 20.2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording A person must not start or ignite a fire of any kind whatsoever in the open air, or permit, A person must not, at any time, burn in the open air any of the following: garden refuse, in the nature of grass and other clippings, leaves, tree and shrub prunings, cuttings and light material;
Permit	Open-air fires are banned unless an exception applies; one is a permit issued by the Fire Chief (s. 20.1(f)). The City's Outdoor Burning Ban page says all open fires are banned. No permit process or fee was found.Sources differ: Searched the Fees Bylaw (Fire-Rescue section) for 'burn', 'permit' and found no burning-permit fee. The ticket schedule cites s. 20.1(g) for 'Burning Without a Permit' while the bylaw text lettered the permit exception 20.1(f) (the bylaw was amended by No. 3084).Fire Protection and Emergency Response Bylaw No. 2835 (consolidated PDF), s. 20.1(f); Outdoor Burning Ban · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording in accordance with a permit issued by the Fire Chief under this Bylaw. A person must not start or ignite a fire of any kind whatsoever in the open air, or permit, All open fires, including fire pits and campfires, are banned in the City of Port Moody
Fire bans	The Fire Chief may by written order restrict or prohibit campfires, beach fires, burning of any kind in the open air, and burning for cooking or heating other than gas, propane or electric CSA-certified devices, where conditions present unusual risk; orders can also restrict smoking and entry to parks and woodland. A standing ban on all open fires is already in place.Fire Protection and Emergency Response Bylaw No. 2835 (consolidated PDF), s. 5.1, 5.2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording If the Fire Chief is of the opinion that conditions exist that present unusual risk to the safety campfires, beach fires, or burning in the open air of any kind; may, by written order, restrict or prohibit any of the following within the City or
Instead of burning	Put yard waste in the weekly green waste cart (twigs and branches up to 10 cm across), or take large amounts to the United Boulevard Recycling and Waste Centre.Solid Waste Bylaw, 2016, No. 3058, Schedule D; Green Waste Collection, Green Waste Collection; Yard waste · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Twigs and branches up to 10cm in diameter; The City of Port Moody collects green waste every week for disposal at Surrey Biofuel Facility, City of Surrey. Take large amounts of yard waste to the United Boulevard Recycling And Waste Centre.
Fine	Municipal ticket: burning without a permit $250; burning prohibited materials $250.Municipal Ticket Information Authorization Bylaw No. 3218 (consolidated PDF), Schedule 2, Fire Protection and Emergency Response Bylaw · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Burning Without a Permit 20.1(g) $250.00 Burning Prohibited Materials 20.2 $250.00
Bylaw	City of Port Moody Fire Protection and Emergency Response Bylaw, 2010, No. 2835Fire Protection and Emergency Response Bylaw No. 2835 (consolidated PDF), Title · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording City of Port Moody Fire Protection and emergency Response Bylaw, 2010, No. 2835

How it works

The City of Port Moody's Outdoor Burning Ban page says all open fires, including fire pits and campfires, are banned. The Fire Protection and Emergency Response Bylaw (s. 20.1) bans any fire in the open air except a CSA-certified barbecue, food-preparation device or outdoor heater, or a fire under a permit from the Fire Chief. It also bans burning garden refuse (grass, leaves, prunings), construction waste, land clearing debris, wood, garbage, rubber, tires or plastic at any time. Wood fires are prohibited at any time.

Steps

For yard waste, use the weekly green waste cart (twigs and branches up to 10 cm across), or take large amounts to the United Boulevard Recycling and Waste Centre.
For a fire for warmth or cooking, use a gas or liquid-fuel fire pit or table, or a charcoal briquette barbecue.
Questions about a permit: call Port Moody Fire Rescue at 604-469-7795.

Good to know

The City page and the bylaw differ on the permit exception. We found no permit process or fee, so confirm with Fire Rescue before planning any fire.
The Fire Chief can also order a restriction or ban on campfires, beach fires and other burning where conditions present unusual risk. A standing ban is already in place. No separate ban-status page was found; check the Outdoor Burning Ban page or call Fire Rescue.
Municipal ticket: burning without a permit $250; burning prohibited materials $250.
The City can recover fire-fighting costs from a person responsible for a fire.

Official forms and pages

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Backyard fire and burning rules in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

Outdoor Burning Ban, City of Port Moody (read 2026-11-05)
Fire Protection and Emergency Response Bylaw No. 2835 (consolidated PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
Solid Waste Bylaw, 2016, No. 3058 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
Green Waste Collection, City of Port Moody (read 2026-11-05)
Municipal Ticket Information Authorization Bylaw No. 3218 (consolidated PDF) (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.