{"title":"Prince George backyard fire and burning rules","question":"Can I have a backyard fire or burn yard waste?","slug":"backyard-fire","place":{"path":"ca/bc/prince-george","name":"Prince George","region":{"code":"bc","name":"British Columbia"},"country":{"code":"ca","name":"Canada"}},"category":{"slug":"bylaws-and-complaints","name":"Bylaws, noise and complaints"},"owner":"municipal","owner_label":"Municipal","owner_body":{"name":"City of Prince George","url":"https://www.princegeorge.ca"},"short_answer":"In Prince George you cannot burn yard waste, leaves, branches or garbage; open burning is not allowed at any time. A small recreational fire is allowed in a fire pit no wider than 60 cm, burning only seasoned firewood, supervised, and never during an air quality advisory.","aliases":["fire pit rules prince george","burn barrel prince george","open burning bylaw","campfire in backyard","burning permit prince george"],"cost":"Open burning: bylaw notice $300 ($375 if paid after 30 days) or municipal ticket $500. Breaking recreational fire rules: bylaw notice $100 ($125 if paid late).","how_long":null,"where":[{"type":"phone","label":"Report noxious burning (Fire Rescue non-emergency)","value":"250-561-7664"},{"type":"phone","label":"Fire Rescue administration","value":"250-561-7667","note":"Business days, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m."}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Clean Air Bylaw No. 8266, 2010 (consolidated PDF)","url":"https://www.princegeorge.ca/sites/default/files/2023-04/BL8266_BYLAW-CONSOLIDATED.pdf"},{"title":"Air Quality, City of Prince George","url":"https://www.princegeorge.ca/community-culture/environment-sustainability/air-quality"}],"related":[{"slug":"bylaw-fines","title":"Prince George bylaw fines and how tickets work","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/prince-george/bylaw-fines/"},{"slug":"fireworks","title":"Prince George fireworks rules","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/prince-george/fireworks/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/vanderhoof","name":"Vanderhoof","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vanderhoof/backyard-fire/"},{"place":"ca/bc/quesnel","name":"Quesnel","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/quesnel/backyard-fire/"},{"place":"ca/bc/fort-st-james","name":"Fort St James","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fort-st-james/backyard-fire/"},{"place":"ca/bc/wells","name":"Wells","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/wells/backyard-fire/"},{"place":"ca/bc/mackenzie","name":"Mackenzie","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mackenzie/backyard-fire/"},{"place":"ca/bc/tumbler-ridge","name":"Tumbler Ridge","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tumbler-ridge/backyard-fire/"}],"topic":{"title":"Backyard fire and burning rules in British Columbia, by municipality","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/backyard-fire/"},"facts":{"campfires":{"label":"Backyard campfires","value":"Allowed. A recreational fire must burn only seasoned firewood in a permanent outdoor fireplace or fire pit no larger than 60 cm across, designed to confine the fire, or a fully enclosed burner. Keep it 3 m from any property line, fence, timber, brush or building, and supervise it with extinguishing equipment on site.","short":"Yes, up to 60 cm across","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.princegeorge.ca/sites/default/files/2023-04/BL8266_BYLAW-CONSOLIDATED.pdf","title":"Clean Air Bylaw No. 8266, 2010 (consolidated) (PDF)","section":"s. 2 \"Recreational Fire\", s. 3.6","quotes":["Recreational Fire - means the burning of seasoned firewood for recreational purposes in a permanent outdoor fireplace, barbecue or fire pit not larger than 60 centimeters in diameter that is","continuously control and supervise the recreational fire;","possess at the site of the recreational fire extinguishing equipment appropriate to the size and type of recreational fire;","not cause, permit or allow the recreational fire to come within three (3) meters of any property line, fence, standing timber, brush or building."]},{"url":"https://www.princegeorge.ca/community-culture/environment-sustainability/air-quality","title":"Air Quality, City of Prince George","section":"Recreational fires","quotes":["A recreational fire must be contained in a permanent outdoor fireplace or fire pit not larger than 60 centimetres in diameter that is designed and constructed to confine the fire."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"open_burning":{"label":"Burning yard waste","value":"Not allowed at any time, on any property in the City. This includes burning grass, leaves, tree material, brush and land clearing debris, and burning in a burn barrel.","short":"No","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.princegeorge.ca/sites/default/files/2023-04/BL8266_BYLAW-CONSOLIDATED.pdf","title":"Clean Air Bylaw No. 8266, 2010 (consolidated) (PDF)","section":"s. 3.1","quotes":["No person shall conduct open burning at any time within the City of Prince George."]},{"url":"https://www.princegeorge.ca/community-culture/environment-sustainability/air-quality","title":"Air Quality, City of Prince George","section":"Open burning","quotes":["Open burning is not allowed in the City of Prince George (excluding recreational fires) at any time on any property within municipal boundaries. This includes the burning of grass, leaves, tree material, and land clearing debris."]},{"url":"https://www.princegeorge.ca/sites/default/files/2023-04/BL8272_BYLAW-ADOPTED.PDF","title":"Fire Protection and Emergency Response Bylaw No. 8272, 2013 (PDF)","section":"s. 10.5","quotes":["no Open Burning shall take place In City of Prince George."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"permit":{"label":"Permit","value":"No permit is mentioned for recreational fires. For open burning, the Fire Chief may issue a burning permit only to an owner or occupier who is permitted to burn under the provincial Environmental Management Act, and the burning must follow the Open Burning Smoke Control Regulation.","short":"Not for recreational fires; Fire Chief may issue","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.princegeorge.ca/sites/default/files/2023-04/BL8272_BYLAW-ADOPTED.PDF","title":"Fire Protection and Emergency Response Bylaw No. 8272, 2013 (PDF)","section":"s. 10.7","quotes":["The Fire Chief may issue a burning permit to the Owner or Occupier of a Property who is","permitted to burn under the Environmental Management Act, however, such burning"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"fire_bans":{"label":"Fire bans","value":"The Fire Chief or an officer may order a total ban on burning in the City, and suspend burning permits, when hazardous fire conditions exist. Separately, no recreational fire or wood-burning appliance use during an air quality advisory issued by the Province.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.princegeorge.ca/sites/default/files/2023-04/BL8272_BYLAW-ADOPTED.PDF","title":"Fire Protection and Emergency Response Bylaw No. 8272, 2013 (PDF)","section":"s. 10.9","quotes":["order a total ban on burning in the City of Prince George and may suspend or revoke any"]},{"url":"https://www.princegeorge.ca/sites/default/files/2023-04/BL8266_BYLAW-CONSOLIDATED.pdf","title":"Clean Air Bylaw No. 8266, 2010 (consolidated) (PDF)","section":"s. 2, s. 3.2","quotes":["Air Quality Advisory - means a public health warning issued by the Province of British Columbia","No person shall ignite or maintain any recreational fire if an air quality advisory has been"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"alternatives":{"label":"Instead of burning","value":"Yard and garden waste is accepted free at the Foothills Boulevard Regional Landfill, Quinn Street Regional Recycling Depot and Vanway Regional Transfer Station (leaves, grass and hedge clippings, plants, branches up to 75 mm). Backyard composting is also suggested.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.rdffg.ca/FoothillsBoulevardRegionalLandfill","title":"Foothills Boulevard Regional Landfill, Regional District of Fraser-Fort George","section":"Yard and garden waste","quotes":["Large quantities of yard and garden waste are also accepted free of charge at the site for composting including:","shrub and tree branches up to 75 mm (3 in) in diameter"]},{"url":"https://www.rdffg.ca/QuinnStreetRegionalRecyclingDepot","title":"Quinn Street Regional Recycling Depot, Regional District of Fraser-Fort George","section":"Yard and garden waste","quotes":["Yard and garden waste is also accepted at Quinn Street Regional Recycling Depot."]},{"url":"https://www.rdffg.ca/VanwayRegionalTransferStation","title":"Vanway Regional Transfer Station, Regional District of Fraser-Fort George","section":"Yard and Garden Waste","quotes":["Large quantities of yard and garden waste are also accepted at the site for composting including:"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"fine":{"label":"Fine","value":"Bylaw notice (Clean Air Bylaw): open burning $300 ($375 if paid after 30 days); breaking recreational fire rules $100 ($125 late). Municipal ticket (Fire Protection Bylaw s. 10.5): open burning $500. Court fine under the Clean Air Bylaw: $2,000 to $10,000.","short":"Notice $300; ticket $500","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.princegeorge.ca/sites/default/files/2026-07/BL8813_CONSOLIDATED_2024-09-09_0.pdf","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 8813, 2016 (consolidated), Schedule B (PDF)","section":"Schedule B, Clean Air Bylaw","quotes":["Conduct open burning 3.1 $300 $375 Yes","Ignite/Maintain Recreational fire 3.2 $100 $125 Yes"]},{"url":"https://www.princegeorge.ca/sites/default/files/2023-04/BL8919_BYLAW-ADOPTED.pdf","title":"Municipal Ticket Information Utilization Bylaw No. 8919, 2017, Schedule C (PDF)","section":"Schedule C","quotes":["Open Air Burning in violation of Clean Air Bylaw 10.5 $500"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Clean Air Bylaw No. 8266, 2010 (Part 3); Fire Protection and Emergency Response Bylaw No. 8272, 2013 (ss. 10.5 to 10.9)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.princegeorge.ca/sites/default/files/2023-04/BL8266_BYLAW-CONSOLIDATED.pdf","title":"Clean Air Bylaw No. 8266, 2010 (consolidated) (PDF)","section":"s. 1.1","quotes":["City of Prince George Clean Air Bylaw No. 8266, 2010"]},{"url":"https://www.princegeorge.ca/sites/default/files/2023-04/BL8919_BYLAW-ADOPTED.pdf","title":"Municipal Ticket Information Utilization Bylaw No. 8919, 2017, Schedule C (PDF)","section":"Schedule A","quotes":["Fire Protection and Emergency Response Bylaw No. 8272, 2013"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":7,"stated":7,"matched":7,"none":0,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nUnder the [Clean Air Bylaw No. 8266](https://www.princegeorge.ca/sites/default/files/2023-04/BL8266_BYLAW-CONSOLIDATED.pdf), open burning is not allowed at any time on any property in Prince George. That includes grass, leaves, tree material, brush, land-clearing debris and burn barrels. Recreational fires are allowed under conditions.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Use a permanent outdoor fireplace or fire pit no larger than 60 cm across, designed to confine the fire, or a fully enclosed burner.\n2. Burn only seasoned firewood (untreated wood air-dried at least six months).\n3. Keep the fire 3 m from any property line, fence, timber, brush or building.\n4. Supervise it, with extinguishing equipment on site.\n5. Do not have a fire while a Provincial air quality advisory is in effect.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- No permit is mentioned for recreational fires. For open burning, the [Fire Protection Bylaw No. 8272](https://www.princegeorge.ca/sites/default/files/2023-04/BL8272_BYLAW-ADOPTED.PDF) lets the Fire Chief issue a permit only to someone permitted to burn under the provincial Environmental Management Act. The Clean Air Bylaw itself has no permit exception.\n- The Fire Chief or an officer can order a total burning ban and suspend permits when hazardous fire conditions exist. The City pages do not say where to check for bans or advisories; ask Fire Rescue.\n- Two ticket systems list open burning: a bylaw notice is $300 ($375 if paid after 30 days); a municipal ticket is $500. Court fine under the Clean Air Bylaw: $2,000 to $10,000.\n- Yard and garden waste is accepted free at the Foothills Boulevard Regional Landfill, Quinn Street Regional Recycling Depot and Vanway Regional Transfer Station (run by the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George).\n- Report neighbours burning noxious waste any time at 250-561-7664.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.princegeorge.ca/city-services/emergency-response-public-safety/fire-police-ambulance-services","title":"Fire, Police & Ambulance Services, City of Prince George","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.princegeorge.ca/community-culture/environment-sustainability/air-quality","title":"Air Quality, City of Prince George","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.princegeorge.ca/sites/default/files/2023-04/BL8266_BYLAW-CONSOLIDATED.pdf","title":"Clean Air Bylaw No. 8266, 2010 (consolidated) (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.princegeorge.ca/sites/default/files/2023-04/BL8272_BYLAW-ADOPTED.PDF","title":"Fire Protection and Emergency Response Bylaw No. 8272, 2013 (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.princegeorge.ca/sites/default/files/2026-07/BL8813_CONSOLIDATED_2024-09-09_0.pdf","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 8813, 2016 (consolidated), Schedule B (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.princegeorge.ca/sites/default/files/2023-04/BL8919_BYLAW-ADOPTED.pdf","title":"Municipal Ticket Information Utilization Bylaw No. 8919, 2017, Schedule C (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.princegeorge.ca/city-services/bylaw-enforcement","title":"Bylaw Enforcement, City of Prince George","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.rdffg.ca/FoothillsBoulevardRegionalLandfill","title":"Foothills Boulevard Regional Landfill, Regional District of Fraser-Fort George","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.rdffg.ca/QuinnStreetRegionalRecyclingDepot","title":"Quinn Street Regional Recycling Depot, Regional District of Fraser-Fort George","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.rdffg.ca/VanwayRegionalTransferStation","title":"Vanway Regional Transfer Station, Regional District of Fraser-Fort George","accessed":"2026-11-05"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-05","review":{"status":"machine_checked","badge":"Checked against official text","label":"Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 7 of 7 facts was matched to the official text."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/prince-george/backyard-fire/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/prince-george/backyard-fire.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/prince-george/backyard-fire.json"}}