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

# Radium Hot Springs backyard fire and burning rules

**Question:** Can I have a backyard fire or burn yard waste in Radium Hot Springs?

**Short answer:** In Radium Hot Springs, small open fires on private property are allowed under the Open Burning Bylaw if you stay with them, keep them 5 m from buildings and under 0.5 m across, and no fire ban is in force. The bylaw mentions no permit. Breaking the rules is a $250 ticket.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Village of Radium Hot Springs, https://radiumhotsprings.ca)  
**Cost:** The bylaw mentions no burning permit or fee. Fine: $250 (municipal ticket).  
**How long:** Not applicable.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Fire Department (non-emergency), 250-347-6455
- Email: Fire Department, firehall@radiumhotsprings.ca
- Phone: Wildfire alerts (BC Wildfire Service), 1-800-663-5555

## Key facts

- **Backyard campfires:** The Open Burning Bylaw has no separate campfire rule. "Small scale" open burning on private property is allowed if: a person watches until it is out and keeps water and equipment ready; it is at least 5 m from any building and 3 m from any property line, standing timber or other combustibles (unless in a domestic incinerator type structure); the pile is no bigger than 0.5 m across and 0.5 m high; no fire ban is in force and it is safe (wind); and smoke does not bother neighbours.
  - Source: [Open Burning Bylaw No. 436, 2017, s. 3(8)](https://radiumhotsprings.civicweb.net/document/4201/)
  - Official wording: "Small scale open burning on private property may occur provided that:" … "such burning shall not be carried out within 5 meters from any building, and 3 meters from any property line, standing timber or any other flammable or combustible material" … "no pile of burning material shall exceed 0.5 meters in diameter and 0.5 meters in height" … "smoke from the open burning does not interfere with any neighbour’s right to a smoke free environment"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Burning yard waste:** Large-scale burning (over 0.5 m across and high) of clearing waste or clean wood is allowed only Monday to Friday, 50 m or more from any building or standing timber, in piles up to 5 m across and 3 m high, with a watch kept until out; not when unsafe or under a fire ban. Never burn noxious materials.
  - Source: [Open Burning Bylaw No. 436, 2017, s. 3(5), 3(6)](https://radiumhotsprings.civicweb.net/document/4201/)
  - Official wording: "That such burning shall only be carried out from Monday to Friday inclusive in" … "That such burning shall not be carried out within 50 meters from any building," … "That no pile of burning material shall exceed 5 meters in diameter and 3 meters in" … "No burning of noxious materials is permitted." … "other hazards, it would be unsafe to do so, or if a partial or complete fire ban has" … "been imposed by the Fire Chief."
  - Source: [Open Burning Bylaw No. 436, 2017, s. 1 "Large scale burning"](https://radiumhotsprings.civicweb.net/document/4201/)
  - Official wording: "means any burning exceeding 0.5 meters in diameter and 0.5 meters in height"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Permit:** None set. Open Burning Bylaw No. 436 states no permit or fee.
- **Fire bans:** When hazardous fire conditions exist, the Fire Chief or designate may by written order ban, suspend or limit any burning. An order takes effect when issued, stays in effect until rescinded in writing, and is posted in the Village Office.
  - Source: [Open Burning Bylaw No. 436, 2017, s. 3(12)](https://radiumhotsprings.civicweb.net/document/4201/)
  - Official wording: "the Fire Chief or designate may, by written order, ban, suspend, or limit any authority" … "These orders shall be posted in the Village Office."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Instead of burning:** Yard and garden waste and clean wood waste can go to the Radium Hot Springs Transfer Station (run with the Regional District of East Kootenay), off Forsters Landing Road, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. seven days a week. The Columbia Valley Landfill in Windermere has no charge for household garbage or yard waste.
  - Source: [Garbage and Recycling, Household Garbage and Recycling](https://radiumhotsprings.ca/services/garbage-recycling/)
  - Official wording: "Yard and Garden Waste" … "Hours of Operation: 8:30 am to 5:30 pm seven days a week" … "There is no landfill charge for disposal of household garbage, yard waste, etc."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Fine:** Municipal ticket: $250 for unauthorized or improper small-scale burning (s. 3(8)), for unauthorized or improper large-scale burning (s. 3(5)), and for unauthorized or unsupervised burning (s. 3(3)).
  - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 533, 2026, Bylaw 533, Appendix 6](https://radiumhotsprings.civicweb.net/document/22371/)
  - Official wording: "Unauthorized or improper small scale burning 3(8) $ 250.00" … "Unauthorized or improper large scale burning 3(5) $ 250.00" … "Unauthorized or unsupervised burning 3(3) $ 250.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** Village of Radium Hot Springs Open Burning Bylaw No. 436 (2017).
  - Source: [Open Burning Bylaw No. 436, 2017, s. 2](https://radiumhotsprings.civicweb.net/document/4201/)
  - Official wording: "This bylaw may be cited for all purposes as “Open Burning Bylaw No. 436”."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

The [Open Burning Bylaw No. 436](https://radiumhotsprings.civicweb.net/document/4201/) has no separate campfire rule. "Small scale" burning on private property is allowed if all of these hold:

- a person watches until the fire is out and keeps water and equipment ready;
- it is at least 5 m from any building and 3 m from any property line, standing timber or other combustibles (unless it is in a domestic incinerator type structure);
- the pile is no bigger than 0.5 m across and 0.5 m high;
- no fire ban is in force and it is safe (wind);
- smoke does not bother neighbours.

## Good to know

- **Large burning** (over 0.5 m across and high) of clearing waste or clean wood is allowed only Monday to Friday, 50 m or more from any building or standing timber, in piles up to 5 m across and 3 m high, with a watch kept until out. Never burn noxious materials.
- Charcoal, natural gas or propane fires in barbecues or other approved appliances used only for cooking are allowed.
- Burning on public property needs authorization from the Fire Chief or designate. Fireworks are also barred in parks and other public places.
- **Fire bans:** the Fire Chief or designate may ban, suspend or limit burning by written order when hazardous conditions exist. It is posted in the Village Office and stays in effect until rescinded. For wildfire alerts, the Village points to bcwildfire.ca and 1-800-663-5555. Check the current status before you light anything.
- Alternative: the Radium Hot Springs Transfer Station takes yard and garden waste and clean wood waste, off Forsters Landing Road, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. seven days a week. See the Village's [Garbage and Recycling page](https://radiumhotsprings.ca/services/garbage-recycling/). The Columbia Valley Landfill in Windermere has no charge for household garbage or yard waste.
- Unauthorized or improper burning is a $250 municipal ticket.

## Official forms and pages

- [Open Burning Bylaw No. 436, 2017 (PDF), Village of Radium Hot Springs](https://radiumhotsprings.civicweb.net/document/4201/)

## Related questions

- [Radium Hot Springs fireworks rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/radium-hot-springs/fireworks.md)
- [Radium Hot Springs noise bylaw: quiet hours, construction hours and fines](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/radium-hot-springs/noise-rules.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Backyard fire and burning rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/backyard-fire.md)
- [Invermere](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/invermere/backyard-fire.md)
- [Canal Flats](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/canal-flats/backyard-fire.md)
- [Golden](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/golden/backyard-fire.md)
- [Kaslo](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kaslo/backyard-fire.md)
- [Elkford](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/elkford/backyard-fire.md)
- [Kimberley](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kimberley/backyard-fire.md)

## Sources

- [Open Burning Bylaw No. 436, 2017 (PDF), Village of Radium Hot Springs](https://radiumhotsprings.civicweb.net/document/4201/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Bylaw Offence Amendment Bylaw No. 538, 2026 (PDF), Village of Radium Hot Springs](https://radiumhotsprings.civicweb.net/document/21884/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 533, 2026 (PDF), Village of Radium Hot Springs](https://radiumhotsprings.civicweb.net/document/22371/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Garbage and Recycling, Village of Radium Hot Springs](https://radiumhotsprings.ca/services/garbage-recycling/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Fire Department, Village of Radium Hot Springs](https://radiumhotsprings.ca/services/community-safety-bylaws/fire-department/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Emergencies, Village of Radium Hot Springs](https://radiumhotsprings.ca/services/community-safety-bylaws/emergencies/) (read 2026-11-08)

_Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 6 of 7 facts was matched to the official text; 1 is recorded as not set. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with Village of Radium Hot Springs. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/radium-hot-springs/backyard-fire/_