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Prince George backyard fire and burning rules

Can I have a backyard fire or burn yard waste?

Prince George, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-05

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.

Key facts

Backyard campfiresAllowed. 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.Clean Air Bylaw No. 8266, 2010 (consolidated), s. 2 "Recreational Fire", s. 3.6; Air Quality, Recreational fires · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
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.
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.
Burning yard wasteNot 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.Clean Air Bylaw No. 8266, 2010 (consolidated), s. 3.1; Air Quality, Open burning; Fire Protection and Emergency Response Bylaw No. 8272, 2013, s. 10.5 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
No person shall conduct open burning at any time within the City of Prince George.
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.
no Open Burning shall take place In City of Prince George.
PermitNo 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.Fire Protection and Emergency Response Bylaw No. 8272, 2013, s. 10.7 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
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
Fire bansThe 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.Fire Protection and Emergency Response Bylaw No. 8272, 2013, s. 10.9; Clean Air Bylaw No. 8266, 2010 (consolidated), s. 2, s. 3.2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
order a total ban on burning in the City of Prince George and may suspend or revoke any
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
Instead of burningYard 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.Foothills Boulevard Regional Landfill, Regional District of Fraser-Fort George, Yard and garden waste; Quinn Street Regional Recycling Depot, Regional District of Fraser-Fort George, Yard and garden waste; Vanway Regional Transfer Station, Regional District of Fraser-Fort George, Yard and Garden Waste · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
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
Yard and garden waste is also accepted at Quinn Street Regional Recycling Depot.
Large quantities of yard and garden waste are also accepted at the site for composting including:
FineBylaw 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.Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 8813, 2016 (consolidated), Schedule B, Schedule B, Clean Air Bylaw; Municipal Ticket Information Utilization Bylaw No. 8919, 2017, Schedule C · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
Conduct open burning 3.1 $300 $375 Yes
Ignite/Maintain Recreational fire 3.2 $100 $125 Yes
Open Air Burning in violation of Clean Air Bylaw 10.5 $500
BylawClean Air Bylaw No. 8266, 2010 (Part 3); Fire Protection and Emergency Response Bylaw No. 8272, 2013 (ss. 10.5 to 10.9)Clean Air Bylaw No. 8266, 2010 (consolidated), s. 1.1; Municipal Ticket Information Utilization Bylaw No. 8919, 2017, Schedule C, Schedule A · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
City of Prince George Clean Air Bylaw No. 8266, 2010
Fire Protection and Emergency Response Bylaw No. 8272, 2013

How it works

Under the Clean Air Bylaw No. 8266, 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.

Steps

  1. Use a permanent outdoor fireplace or fire pit no larger than 60 cm across, designed to confine the fire, or a fully enclosed burner.
  2. Burn only seasoned firewood (untreated wood air-dried at least six months).
  3. Keep the fire 3 m from any property line, fence, timber, brush or building.
  4. Supervise it, with extinguishing equipment on site.
  5. Do not have a fire while a Provincial air quality advisory is in effect.

Good to know

  • No permit is mentioned for recreational fires. For open burning, the Fire Protection Bylaw No. 8272 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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).
  • Report neighbours burning noxious waste any time at 250-561-7664.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Vanderhoof · Quesnel · Fort St James · Wells · Mackenzie · Tumbler Ridge

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

Sources

  1. Fire, Police & Ambulance Services, City of Prince George (read 2026-11-05)
  2. Air Quality, City of Prince George (read 2026-11-05)
  3. Clean Air Bylaw No. 8266, 2010 (consolidated) (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
  4. Fire Protection and Emergency Response Bylaw No. 8272, 2013 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
  5. Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 8813, 2016 (consolidated), Schedule B (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
  6. Municipal Ticket Information Utilization Bylaw No. 8919, 2017, Schedule C (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
  7. Bylaw Enforcement, City of Prince George (read 2026-11-05)
  8. Foothills Boulevard Regional Landfill, Regional District of Fraser-Fort George (read 2026-11-05)
  9. Quinn Street Regional Recycling Depot, Regional District of Fraser-Fort George (read 2026-11-05)
  10. Vanway Regional Transfer Station, Regional District of Fraser-Fort George (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.