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

# Pouce Coupe backyard fire and burning rules

**Question:** Can I have a backyard fire or burn yard waste in Pouce Coupe?

**Short answer:** In Pouce Coupe, you need a burning permit from the Fire Chief or the Village Office for any open air fire, including campfires and yard waste burning. Exceptions are portable barbecues, Fire Chief-approved fire pits on private land and approved screened incinerators. All permits are suspended during fire restrictions.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Village of Pouce Coupe, https://www.poucecoupe.ca)  
**Cost:** On the 2020 permit form: $3 for a 3-day permit; $10 for a yearly permit. Confirm with the Village Office.  
**How long:** Permits can be issued for a one-time event or up to one year.  
**Where:**
- In person: Village Office, 5011 49th Avenue, Pouce Coupe, BC (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)
- Phone: Village Office, 250-786-5794

## Key facts

- **Backyard campfires:** A burning permit is required for any open air fire, which includes campfires, with these exceptions: cooking on a portable barbecue, and fireplaces, stoves or fire pits on private land that the Fire Chief has approved. The permit form limits a fire to 0.5 m x 0.5 m x 0.5 m. In Village parks, fires only in Village-approved fire pits or BBQ areas.
  - Source: [Fire Protection & Life Safety Bylaw No. 967, 2014, Part 5, s. 28(a)-(b); s. 2](https://poucecoupe.civicweb.net/document/5729/)
  - Official wording: "No person shall light or start an open air fire within the Village without first having obtained a burning permit from the Fire Chief or Village Administration." … "The cooking of food using a portable barbeque apparatus;" … "Burning on privately owned lands or in developed campgrounds where fireplaces, stoves, and/or fire pits are provided and approved by the Fire Chief." … "which is not contained within a portable device designed for cooking food in the outdoors"
  - Source: [Burning permit form, Burning Permit form (2020)](https://poucecoupe.civicweb.net/document/24132/)
  - Official wording: "No fire shall be larger than .5 m x .5m x .5 m"
  - Source: [Parks and Open Spaces Bylaw No. 1061, 2025, s. 4.2](https://poucecoupe.civicweb.net/document/46963/)
  - Official wording: "Start fires except in Village-approved fire pits or BBQ areas."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Burning yard waste:** Burning yard or garden waste needs a permit, except in an incinerator covered with a screen to prevent flying sparks and approved by the Fire Chief. Only dry combustible garden refuse; no tires, plastics, drywall or demolition waste. Permit holders must check that the venting forecast is good and stay with the fire.
  - Source: [Fire Protection & Life Safety Bylaw No. 967, 2014, Part 5, s. 28(b), (d), (g)](https://poucecoupe.civicweb.net/document/5729/)
  - Official wording: "Burning yard or garden waste only in an incinerator covered with a screen to prevent flying sparks and approved by the Fire Chief;" … "Environment Canada venting forecast is good before they light any fire."
  - Source: [Burning permit form, Burning Permit form (2020)](https://poucecoupe.civicweb.net/document/24132/)
  - Official wording: "The permittee shall ensure that only dry, combustible garden refuse will be burned."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Permit:** Yes, from the Fire Chief or Village Administration (Village Office). The 2020 permit form lists $3 for a 3-day permit and $10 for a yearly permit (calendar year). Permits can be issued for a one-time event or up to one year. All permits are suspended during burning restrictions.
  - Source: [Fire Protection & Life Safety Bylaw No. 967, 2014, Part 5, s. 28(c)](https://poucecoupe.civicweb.net/document/5729/)
  - Official wording: "Permits may be issued for a onetime event or for an extended period of time of up to 1 (one) year"
  - Source: [Burning permit form, Burning Permit form (2020)](https://poucecoupe.civicweb.net/document/24132/)
  - Official wording: "3-Day Permit $3.00" … "Yearly Permit $10.00" … "ALL BURNING PERMITS ARE SUSPENDED DURING THE PERIOD OF BURNING RESTRICTIONS IMPOSED BY THE VILLAGE OF POUCE COUPE OR HIGHER LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Fire bans:** The Fire Chief may impose a written ban on open fires, and disregarding a ban is an offence. All burning permits are suspended during restrictions set by the Village or a higher level of government. The permit form points to the Province's fire bans and restrictions page.
  - Source: [Fire Protection & Life Safety Bylaw No. 967, 2014, s. 8, s. 19(e)](https://poucecoupe.civicweb.net/document/5729/)
  - Official wording: "impose a written ban on open fires when he deems it necessary to protect life and property;" … "A person must not disregard any open fire ban order or forest/woodland closure order issued by the Fire Chief in writing under this by-law or any other relevant piece of legislation."
  - Source: [Burning permit form, Burning Permit form (2020)](https://poucecoupe.civicweb.net/document/24132/)
  - Official wording: "No fire shall be larger than .5 m x .5m x .5 m, as per the BC Burn laws which can be found at: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/wildfire-status/fire-bans-and-restrictions" … "ALL BURNING PERMITS ARE SUSPENDED DURING THE PERIOD OF BURNING RESTRICTIONS IMPOSED BY THE VILLAGE OF POUCE COUPE OR HIGHER LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Instead of burning:** Lawn, leaf and brush can be taken to the Village compost area at the end of 54th Avenue from 52 Street. The Solid Waste Bylaw says yard waste is only permitted in the Village compost site at 5413 54th Avenue when the gates are open.
  - Source: [Garbage & Recycling, Lawn/leaf & brush composting](https://poucecoupe.ca/government/public-works/garbage-recycling/)
  - Official wording: "Acceptable compostable materials can be dropped off at the Village of Pouce Coupe Compost area located at the end of 54th Avenue from 52 Street."
  - Source: [Solid Waste Management Bylaw No. 1049, 2023, s. 3.22](https://poucecoupe.civicweb.net/document/5732/)
  - Official wording: "Yard waste is only permitted in the Village compost site located at 5413 54th Avenue when gates are open to the public."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Fine:** $500 for burning during a fire ban (s. 19(e)). In a Village park, an unauthorized open fire is $300 ($500 for a second offence).
  - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 1052, 2025, Schedule E](https://poucecoupe.civicweb.net/document/46964/)
  - Official wording: "Burning during fire ban 19(e) $500.00"
  - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 1052, 2025, Schedule S (Parks)](https://poucecoupe.civicweb.net/document/46964/)
  - Official wording: "Unauthorized open fire 4.5.1 $300.00" … "Unauthorized open fire (2nd offense) 4.5.2 $500.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** Fire Protection & Life Safety Bylaw No. 967, 2014, Part 5, s. 28 (Burning Permits).
  - Source: [Fire Protection & Life Safety Bylaw No. 967, 2014, Title](https://poucecoupe.civicweb.net/document/5729/)
  - Official wording: "FIRE PROTECTION & LIFE SAFETY"
  - Source: [Burning permit form, Burning Permit form (2020)](https://poucecoupe.civicweb.net/document/24132/)
  - Official wording: "IN RELATION TO BYLAW #967, 2014 - Part 5, Section 28."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

Under the [Fire Protection & Life Safety Bylaw No. 967](https://poucecoupe.civicweb.net/document/5729/), a burning permit is needed in Pouce Coupe for any open air fire, which includes grass fires, brush fires and campfires. Exceptions: cooking on a portable barbecue, and fireplaces, stoves or fire pits on private land that the Fire Chief has approved. The permit form limits a fire to 0.5 m x 0.5 m x 0.5 m. In Village parks, fires are allowed only in Village-approved fire pits or BBQ areas.

## Steps

1. Get a burning permit from the Fire Chief or the Village Office, 250-786-5794.
2. Burn only dry combustible garden refuse. No tires, plastics, drywall or demolition waste.
3. Check that the venting forecast is good, and stay with the fire.

## Good to know

- Burning yard or garden waste needs a permit, except in an incinerator covered with a screen to prevent flying sparks and approved by the Fire Chief.
- The bylaw sets no burning dates or season.
- The Fire Chief may impose a written ban on open fires, and disregarding a ban is an offence. All permits are suspended during burning restrictions set by the Village or a higher level of government. The permit form points to the Province's fire bans and restrictions page. Check it before you light a fire.
- Burning during a fire ban is a $500 ticket. An unauthorized open fire in a Village park is $300 ($500 for a second offence).
- Instead of burning, lawn, leaf and brush can go to the Village compost area at the end of 54th Avenue from 52 Street.

## Official forms and pages

- [Burning permit form (PDF)](https://poucecoupe.civicweb.net/document/24132/)
- [Fire Protection & Life Safety Bylaw No. 967, 2014 (PDF)](https://poucecoupe.civicweb.net/document/5729/)

## Related questions

- [Pouce Coupe yard waste collection and drop-off](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/pouce-coupe/yard-waste.md)
- [Pouce Coupe bylaw fines and how tickets work](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/pouce-coupe/bylaw-fines.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Backyard fire and burning rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/backyard-fire.md)
- [Dawson Creek](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dawson-creek/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)
- [Tumbler Ridge](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tumbler-ridge/backyard-fire.md)
- [Hudson's Hope](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/hudsons-hope/backyard-fire.md)
- [Mackenzie](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mackenzie/backyard-fire.md)

## Sources

- [Fire Protection & Life Safety Bylaw No. 967, 2014 (PDF), Village of Pouce Coupe](https://poucecoupe.civicweb.net/document/5729/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Burning permit form (PDF), Village of Pouce Coupe](https://poucecoupe.civicweb.net/document/24132/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Parks and Open Spaces Bylaw No. 1061, 2025 (PDF), Village of Pouce Coupe](https://poucecoupe.civicweb.net/document/46963/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 1052, 2025 (PDF), Village of Pouce Coupe](https://poucecoupe.civicweb.net/document/46964/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Solid Waste Management Bylaw No. 1049, 2023 (PDF), Village of Pouce Coupe](https://poucecoupe.civicweb.net/document/5732/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Garbage & Recycling, Village of Pouce Coupe](https://poucecoupe.ca/government/public-works/garbage-recycling/) (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 Village of Pouce Coupe. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/pouce-coupe/backyard-fire/_