---
title: Prince Rupert backyard fire and burning rules
question: "Can I have a backyard fire or burn yard waste?"
place: Prince Rupert, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/prince-rupert
category: Bylaws, noise and complaints
owner: municipal
owner_body: City of Prince Rupert
sources_read: 2026-11-05
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/prince-rupert/backyard-fire/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/prince-rupert/backyard-fire.json"
---

# Prince Rupert backyard fire and burning rules

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

**Short answer:** In Prince Rupert, an open air fire of any kind needs a $20 permit from the Fire Chief. The only exception is a small confined fire used for cooking food, such as in a grill, fireplace, propane fire place or barbecue. The bylaw has no separate rule for backyard fire pits.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Prince Rupert, https://www.princerupert.ca)  
**Cost:** Open air burning permit $20. Court fine $50 to $10,000 per offence.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Fire Department, 250-624-5115
- Phone: Fire Chief, 250-627-1248

## Key facts

- **Backyard campfires:** The fire bylaw has no separate rule for recreational campfires or fire pits. An open air fire of any kind needs a Fire Chief permit; the only no-permit exception is a small confined fire used for cooking food in fireplaces, grills, propane fire places and barbecues. No fire may give off opaque or dense smoke.
  - Source: [Fire Control and Protection Bylaw No. 3663, 2025, s. 63, 69](https://www.princerupert.ca/media/2153)
  - Official wording: "No Person shall light, ignite, or start, or allow or cause to be lit, ignited or started, an open air fire of any kind whatsoever" … "small confined fires may be set and used for cooking food in fireplaces, grills, propane fire places and barbecues"
  - Source: [Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 3558, 2025, s. 8.2](https://www.princerupert.ca/media/2423)
  - Official wording: "No PERSON may set out, start or kindle a fire that emits opaque or dense SMOKE, or noxious odours."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Burning yard waste:** Needs an open air fire permit from the Fire Chief. Permits may be issued for fire training, brush, stumps and slash from clearing land, dry garden refuse, City burning and clean untreated lumber. Burning household garbage is not allowed. Council may set a 'clean up' period when garden and household refuse can be burned without a permit, outdoors, in residential zones, in daylight.
  - Source: [Fire Control and Protection Bylaw No. 3663, 2025, s. 63-65](https://www.princerupert.ca/media/2153)
  - Official wording: "the burning of dry garden Refuse" … "Council may officially designate a specific “clean up” period during which Persons may, without a Permit, burn garden and" … "on private property located in areas designated as “Residential Zones” in the City’s current zoning bylaw"
  - Source: [Property Maintenance Bylaw No. 3297, 2010, s. 2(g)](https://www.princerupert.ca/media/638)
  - Official wording: "shall not foul or contaminate the atmosphere by burning household garbage"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Permit:** Yes: an open air burning permit from the Fire Chief, $20. The Fire Chief may refuse it if the fire would likely be hazardous or a nuisance, and may add conditions.
  - Source: [Fire Control and Protection Bylaw No. 3663, 2025, s. 63, 68, 80; Fee schedule E](https://www.princerupert.ca/media/2153)
  - Official wording: "obtaining a Permit from the Fire Chief" … "Open air burning permit $20.00" … "The Fire Chief may refuse to issue a Permit if, in their opinion, the proposed fire would"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fire bans:** Prince Rupert has no set ban procedure: the Fire Chief may close forested areas by written order, and the permit is refused if a fire would be hazardous. BC Wildfire Service fire bans usually do not apply inside municipalities, which set their own, so ask the Fire Department (250-624-5115).
  - Source: [Fire Control and Protection Bylaw No. 3663, 2025, s. 63(b), 75](https://www.princerupert.ca/media/2153)
  - Official wording: "except in accordance with any restrictions or requirements imposed under the" … "The Fire Chief may, by written order, close any forested or woodland area or any portion"
  - Source: [Fire Prohibitions and Restrictions - Province of British Columbia, Where BC Wildfire Service orders apply](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/wildfire-status/prevention/fire-bans-and-restrictions)
  - Official wording: "Typically, BCWS open fire prohibition and equipment/activity prohibition orders will specify that they do not apply within municipal boundaries" … "Municipalities typically implement their own open fire prohibitions that may follow or vary from BCWS prohibitions."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Instead of burning:** No curbside yard waste collection. Yard waste can go to the City landfill, 500 Ridley Island Road (listed under the recyclable-material rate, $19.90 per tonne, $6 minimum for residents paying by cash or card).
  - Source: [Curbside Recycling, FAQ](https://www.princerupert.ca/services/garbage-and-recycling/curbside-recycling)
  - Official wording: "Will the City be collecting yard waste? Not at this time."
  - Source: [2026 Prince Rupert Landfill Brochure, 2026 fees](https://www.princerupert.ca/sites/7/files/2026-06/Brochure%20-%20Prince%20Rupert%20Landfill-2026.pdf)
  - Official wording: "$19.90 / tonne $22.30/ tonne unless otherwise specified." … "Recyclable Material ($6.00 min-300kg or less) ($6.00 min-270kg or less)" … "Yard Waste “ “ measured on the Landfill scale."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** Court fine $50 to $10,000 per offence, each day a separate offence; the bylaw may be enforced by ticket under Ticket Information Bylaw 2783. That ticket schedule lists $50 for unauthorized burning, but under the section numbers of the repealed Fire Bylaw 2944.
  - Source: [Fire Control and Protection Bylaw No. 3663, 2025, s. 95-97](https://www.princerupert.ca/media/2153)
  - Official wording: "a fine of not less than $50.00 and not more than $10,000.00" … "This Bylaw may be enforced by means of a ticket issued under the City of Prince Rupert"
  - Source: [Ticket Information Bylaw No. 2783 (consolidated to 2000), Schedule H](https://www.princerupert.ca/media/664)
  - Official wording: "Unauthorized burning 7.01 $50.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Fire Control and Protection Bylaw No. 3663, 2025
  - Source: [Fire Control and Protection Bylaw No. 3663, 2025, s. 1](https://www.princerupert.ca/media/2153)
  - Official wording: "City of Prince Rupert Fire Control and Protection Bylaw No. 3663, 2025"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

[Fire Control and Protection Bylaw 3663](https://www.princerupert.ca/media/2153) requires a permit from the Fire Chief for any open air fire. The only exception is a small confined fire used for cooking food, in fireplaces, grills, propane fire places and barbecues. The bylaw has no separate rule for recreational campfires or fire pits, and it does not define "open air fire", so whether a backyard fire pit used for warmth is covered is unclear. Confirm with the Fire Chief. No fire may give off opaque or dense smoke.

## Steps

1. Ask the Fire Department (250-624-5115) or the Fire Chief (250-627-1248) how to apply. The permit is on a form set by the Fire Chief.
2. Pay the $20 fee.
3. Stay with the fire until it is out.

## Good to know

- Permits may be issued for fire training, brush, stumps and slash from clearing land, dry garden refuse, City burning and clean untreated lumber. The Fire Chief may refuse a permit if the fire would likely be hazardous or a nuisance, and may add conditions.
- Burning household garbage is not allowed.
- Council may set a "clean up" period when garden and household refuse can be burned without a permit, outdoors, in residential zones and in daylight. No current period was found.
- The person in charge of a permitted or cooking fire must stay with it until it is out.
- No City burning-ban page was found. The Fire Chief may close forested areas by written order. BC Wildfire Service bans usually do not apply inside a municipality, which sets its own, so ask the Fire Department.
- There is no curbside yard waste collection. Yard waste can go to the City landfill; see the yard waste answer.
- Penalty: a court fine of $50 to $10,000 per offence, each day a separate offence. The bylaw can also be enforced by ticket under MTI Bylaw 2783. Its schedule lists $50 for unauthorized burning, but under the section numbers of the repealed fire bylaw, so ask the City what applies.
- The Good Neighbour Bylaw (Part 8) also covers nuisance smoke.

## Official forms and pages

- [Fire Control and Protection Bylaw No. 3663, 2025 (PDF)](https://www.princerupert.ca/media/2153)

## Related questions

- [Prince Rupert fireworks rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/prince-rupert/fireworks.md)
- [Prince Rupert noise bylaw: quiet hours, construction hours and fines](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/prince-rupert/noise-rules.md)
- [Prince Rupert unsightly property rules and how to report](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/prince-rupert/unsightly-property.md)
- [Prince Rupert bylaw fines and how tickets work](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/prince-rupert/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)
- [Port Edward](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-edward/backyard-fire.md)
- [Kitimat](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kitimat/backyard-fire.md)
- [Terrace](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/terrace/backyard-fire.md)
- [Smithers](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/smithers/backyard-fire.md)
- [Telkwa](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/telkwa/backyard-fire.md)
- [Houston](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/houston/backyard-fire.md)

## Sources

- [Fire Control and Protection Bylaw No. 3663, 2025 (PDF), City of Prince Rupert](https://www.princerupert.ca/media/2153) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Fire Department, City of Prince Rupert](https://www.princerupert.ca/city-hall/departments/fire-department) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 3558, 2025 (PDF), City of Prince Rupert](https://www.princerupert.ca/media/2423) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Property Maintenance Bylaw No. 3297, 2010 (PDF), City of Prince Rupert](https://www.princerupert.ca/media/638) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Ticket Information Bylaw No. 2783 (consolidated to 2000) (PDF), City of Prince Rupert](https://www.princerupert.ca/media/664) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Fire Prohibitions and Restrictions - Province of British Columbia](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/wildfire-status/prevention/fire-bans-and-restrictions) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Curbside Recycling, City of Prince Rupert](https://www.princerupert.ca/services/garbage-and-recycling/curbside-recycling) (read 2026-11-05)
- [2026 Prince Rupert Landfill Brochure (PDF)](https://www.princerupert.ca/sites/7/files/2026-06/Brochure%20-%20Prince%20Rupert%20Landfill-2026.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. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with City of Prince Rupert. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/prince-rupert/backyard-fire/_