Rossland backyard fire and burning rules

Can I have a backyard fire or burn yard waste in Rossland?

Rossland, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-05

Short answer

In Rossland, a small attended campfire of clean firewood is allowed without a permit unless banned. Burning yard waste or garbage is always prohibited. Other open burning needs a Burn Permit from City Hall, and only on days when the venting index is greater than 55.

Key facts

Backyard campfires	Yes. A 'campfire' is allowed without a burn permit if it burns clean firewood in a pile no larger than 0.5 m high and 0.5 m across, is attended by a person with firefighting tools and water who ensures it is out before leaving, and no other restriction applies. Campfires are banned when the BC Wildfire Service Southeast Fire Centre bans Category 1 campfires, or when a Fire Service Officer or the Manager of Public Works finds a nuisance or hazard.Sources differ: CONFLICT: the City's Spring Burning page says 'The City's Burning Bylaw DOES NOT apply to campfires on private property'. The bylaw (Part 4) does apply to campfires, so the bylaw's rules are given.Fire Prevention and Burning Bylaw No. 2814, 2023, s. 2(d), 2(k), 3.2, 4.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording burns clean firewood in a pile no larger than 0.5 metres in height and 0.5 metres in diameter, is attended by a person that: campfires as defined above in item 2. d); Campfires will be prohibited/ banned within the City of Rossland when: Fire Centre prohibits/ bans 'Category 1 Campfires' or; creating a nuisance or hazardous conditions exist.
Burning yard waste	Burning yard waste, garbage and prohibited materials is always prohibited, with no exceptions. A Burn Permit may be issued only for open burning of material from urban interface clearing, agricultural pruning and land clearing, or to remove a fire hazard, and only on days when the Venting Index is above 55.Fire Prevention and Burning Bylaw No. 2814, 2023, s. 3.4, 3.7, 3.9; Licences and Permits, Burn Permit · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording are always and without exception prohibited. material accumulated from urban interface clearing, agricultural pruning and land clearing or to remove a fire hazard. Burning under a Burn Permit may only occur on days when the Venting Index is greater than 55, open burning of yard and garden waste is prohibited within the City
Permit	Open burning needs a Burn Permit; campfires do not. Apply to City Hall with the Schedule B Burn Permit Application; it must be approved by the Manager of Public Works. Permit holders must call RDKB Fire Rescue at 250-364-1737 on every burn day. City Hall: 250-362-7396, cityhall@rossland.ca.Fire Prevention and Burning Bylaw No. 2814, 2023, s. 3.1-3.3, Schedule B; Licences and Permits, Burn Permit · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Only when the Burn Permit Application (Schedule B) has been approved by the Manager of Public Works (or designate), Call 250-364-1737 every day that the burn will take place. Phone: 250-362-7396 Email: cityhall@rossland.ca In some situations, a “Special Burning Permit” can be issued. Please contact City Hall if you wish to apply.
Fire bans	A burn permit can be suspended when a BC Wildfire Service Southeast Fire Centre open fire prohibition or ban is in effect, and campfires are banned when that Centre bans Category 1 campfires. The permit form directs applicants to the BC Wildfire Service 'Wildfire Status Fire Bans and Restrictions' page and to check the Venting Index before burning.Fire Prevention and Burning Bylaw No. 2814, 2023, s. 3.5(a), 4.1(a), Schedule B · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording a BC Wildfire Service - Southeast Fire Centre open fire prohibition or ban is imposed or is Wildfire Status Fire Bans and Restrictions
Instead of burning	Curbside yard-waste pick-up no longer happens: spring clean-up collects roadside sand and gravel only. Use the debris bins at the arena parking lot (rotational, budget limited), the RDKB Green Bin for garden waste, or haul it to McKelvey Creek Landfill in Trail at your own expense.Spring Burning - What you Need to Know, Burning Alternatives; Wildfire Hazard / FireSmart Program, 2026 FireSmart Events; https://rossland.civicweb.net/document/33418/, s. 9.1; Press Release – City of Rossland Updates Spring Clean-Up Program for 2026 – Rossland, Press release · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Every spring, the City provides a curbside Yard waste pick-up. Yard or garden waste are accepted at the McKelvey Creek Regional Landfill located in Trail, BC. This service is for Wildfire Hazard Vegetation ONLY. From time to time, the City may designate days when the City may provide general residential Curbside pickup of branches, piles of leaves, yard waste, and FireSmart debris will no longer occur. Direct hauling to the McKelvey Creek Landfill in Trail (at resident expense)
Fine	Burning bylaw notice amounts: open burning without a valid Burn Permit $500; burning prohibited material $500; breaking a campfire ban $200; burning in hazardous wind $200; burning during a venting index of >55 (as the schedule words it) $200; breaking permit terms or causing a nuisance $200.Fire Prevention and Burning Bylaw No. 2814, 2023, Schedule A; Fire Prevention and Burning Bylaw No. 2814, 2023, s. 7.3-7.4 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Open Burning without a valid Burn Permit 3.1, 3.3, 3.5 $500.00 Burning of prohibited material, etc. 3.7, 3.10 $500.00 Failure to comply with campfire prohibition/ ban 4.1 $200.00 Burning during a venting index of >55 3.9 $200.00 Burning during hazardous wind conditions 3.8 $200.00 Failure to Comply with Burn Permit Terms and Conditions for a fine in accordance with the amounts prescribed in Schedule A of this bylaw.
Bylaw	The City of Rossland Fire Prevention and Burning Bylaw No. 2814, 2023Fire Prevention and Burning Bylaw No. 2814, 2023, s. 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording The City of Rossland Fire Prevention and Burning Bylaw No. 2814, 2023

How it works

Fire Prevention and Burning Bylaw No. 2814 allows a campfire without a burn permit. It must burn clean firewood in a pile no larger than 0.5 m high and 0.5 m across, be attended by a person with firefighting tools and water, and be put out before they leave.

Burning yard waste, garbage and other prohibited materials is always prohibited, with no exceptions. Yard waste includes tree cuttings, branches and leaves that are not clean firewood. A Burn Permit may be issued only for open burning of material from urban interface clearing, agricultural pruning and land clearing, or to remove a fire hazard, and only on days when the venting index is greater than 55.

Steps

For a campfire, follow the size and attendance rules above.
Do not light it if the BC Wildfire Service Southeast Fire Centre has banned Category 1 campfires, or if a Fire Service Officer or the Manager of Public Works finds a nuisance or hazard.
For other burning, apply to City Hall with the Schedule B Burn Permit Application. The Manager of Public Works must approve it.
If you have a permit, call RDKB Fire Rescue at 250-364-1737 on every burn day, and keep a competent person in charge until the fire is out.
Check the BC Wildfire Service fire bans and restrictions page and the venting index before burning. A permit can be suspended during a ban.

Good to know

The City's Spring Burning page says the Burning Bylaw does not apply to campfires on private property. The bylaw (Part 4) does apply to them, so follow the bylaw and confirm with City Hall.
Bylaw notices: burning without a valid Burn Permit $500; burning prohibited material $500; breaking a campfire ban $200; burning in hazardous wind $200; breaking permit terms or causing a nuisance $200. The schedule also lists burning during a venting index of ">55" at $200, which does not match the bylaw text, so ask City Hall.
On prosecution, the court penalty is $2,000 to $50,000. The owner is also liable for fire department costs.
Curbside yard-waste pick-up has ended. See the yard waste answer for alternatives.

What you'll need

Completed Burn Permit Application (Schedule B of the bylaw)

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Warfield · Trail · Montrose · Fruitvale · Castlegar · Salmo

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

Sources

Fire Prevention and Burning Bylaw No. 2814, 2023 (PDF), City of Rossland (read 2026-11-05)
Spring Burning - What you Need to Know, City of Rossland (read 2026-11-05)
Licences and Permits, City of Rossland (read 2026-11-05)
Wildfire Hazard / FireSmart Program, City of Rossland (read 2026-11-05)
https://rossland.civicweb.net/document/33418/ (read 2026-11-05)
Press Release – City of Rossland Updates Spring Clean-Up Program for 2026 – Rossland (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.