GovHandbook

Salmo backyard fire and burning rules

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

Salmo, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-08

Short answer

In Salmo, the Fire Prevention Bylaw bars lighting a fire of any kind in the open air except as otherwise provided. It sets no burning season and no yard-waste burning permit, and never allows burning tires, plastics or treated lumber. Check for fire bans before lighting.

Key facts

Backyard campfiresThe bylaw defines a campfire as a contained outdoor fire no larger than 1/2 metre across and 1/2 metre high. Campfires and certified outdoor fireplaces are left out of its "open burning" definition. It does not say in so many words that they are allowed.Fire Prevention Bylaw No. 719, 2020, consolidated with Bylaw #765, s. 2.1 (Campfire, Open Burning, Outdoor Fireplace) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
Campfire – means a contained outdoor fire, not exceeding ½ meter in diameter and ½ meter in height.
d) Campfires and;
e) Outdoor Fireplaces.
Burning yard wasteNo one may light a fire of any kind in the open air except as otherwise provided; the bylaw sets no burning season or yard-waste permit. Tires, plastics, domestic waste, paint, treated lumber and similar materials may never be burned. The Open Burning Smoke Control Regulation applies.Fire Prevention Bylaw No. 719, 2020, consolidated with Bylaw #765, s. 4.1, 4.2, 4.5; s. 2.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
Except as otherwise provided, no person may light, ignite or allow or cause to be lit or started a fire of any kind in the open air.
Permitted Burning Material – means seasoned and dry parts of trees or other vegetation.
Every person must comply with the requirements set out in the Open Burning Smoke Control Regulation
PermitNone set. Salmo's Fire Prevention Bylaw sets no permit process for burning.Read: Fire Prevention Bylaw No. 719, 2020, consolidated with Bylaw #765
Fire bansNo fire may be started when banned under Provincial regulation. The Fire Chief may ban, extinguish or require extinguishment of any burning considered hazardous. The Village posts notices of campfire prohibitions.Fire Prevention Bylaw No. 719, 2020, consolidated with Bylaw #765, s. 4.3, 4.6; Campfire prohibition notice, Notice page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
The Fire Chief, or other Fire Officer acting in their place, may take any action to ban, extinguish or require extinguishment of any burning that the Fire Chief considers Hazardous.
banned under Provincial regulation
CAMPFIRE PROHIBITION THROUGHOUT THE SOUTHEAST FIRE CENTRE
Instead of burningThe Village collects bagged compostable yard and garden waste at the curb twice a year (spring and fall clean-up). The RDCK Central (Salmo) Transfer Station, 550 Emerald Road, takes yard and garden waste free in May and October only.Recycling and Garbage, Garbage and recycling page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
The Village picks up compostable yard and garden waste twice a year – once in the spring and once in the fall.
Yard & Garden Waste accepted for free in May and October (only). User fees apply the rest of the year.
FineSchedule A fines: $500 for burning prohibited materials; $1,150 for starting a fire in hazardous conditions or during a Provincial fire ban; $250 for breaching the Open Burning Smoke Control Regulation; $500 for more than one open fire a week or over 6 hours a day in a public welfare emergency.Fire Prevention Bylaw No. 719, 2020, consolidated with Bylaw #765, Schedule A (Fines) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
Burning of prohibited materials 4.2 $500.00
Starting fire in Hazardous conditions or during Provincial fire 4.3 $1,150.00
Non-compliance with Open Burning Smoke Control Regulation 4.4 $250.00
This Bylaw is designated under section 264 of the Community Charter as a bylaw that may be enforced by means of a Bylaw Notice.
A person who commits an offence under this Bylaw will be liable to a penalty established under the Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw.
BylawFire Prevention Bylaw No. 719, 2020 (as amended by Bylaw #765, 2025).Fire Prevention Bylaw No. 719, 2020, consolidated with Bylaw #765, Title · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
FIRE PREVENTION BYLAW NO. 719, 2020

How it works

The Fire Prevention Bylaw No. 719 (as amended by Bylaw #765) says no one may light a fire of any kind in the open air except as otherwise provided. It sets no burning season and no yard-waste permit. It defines a campfire as a contained outdoor fire no larger than 1/2 metre across and 1/2 metre high. Campfires and certified outdoor fireplaces are left out of its "open burning" definition, but the bylaw does not say in so many words that they are allowed.

Tires, plastics, domestic waste, paint, treated lumber and similar materials may never be burned. The Open Burning Smoke Control Regulation applies.

Steps

  1. Check for a current fire ban on the Village website (it posts campfire prohibition notices) and with the BC Wildfire Service.
  2. Do not light a fire in hazardous wind or weather.
  3. Ask the Village office (250-357-9433) before burning anything, since the bylaw sets no permit process.

Good to know

  • No fire may be started when banned under Provincial regulation. The Fire Chief may ban, extinguish or require extinguishment of any burning considered hazardous.
  • Fines: $500 for burning prohibited materials; $1,150 for a fire in hazardous conditions or during a Provincial fire ban; $250 for breaching the Open Burning Smoke Control Regulation; $500 for more than one open fire a week or over 6 hours a day in a public welfare emergency. A court fine of $100 to $2,000 plus costs is also possible.
  • For yard waste, see the Village garbage and recycling page and the yard waste answer.
  • The Village posts this bylaw as 'consolidated for convenience only, not official version'; confirm with the Village office.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Fruitvale · Montrose · Castlegar · Nelson · Trail · Warfield

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

Sources

  1. Fire Prevention Bylaw No. 719, 2020, consolidated with Bylaw #765 (PDF) (read 2026-11-08)
  2. Campfire prohibition notice, Village of Salmo (read 2026-11-08)
  3. Recycling and Garbage, Village of Salmo (read 2026-11-08)
  4. Contact, Village of Salmo (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. How answers are checked.