--- title: Sayward backyard fire and burning rules question: "Can I have a backyard fire or burn yard waste in Sayward?" place: Sayward, British Columbia, Canada place_path: ca/bc/sayward category: Bylaws, noise and complaints owner: municipal owner_body: Village of Sayward sources_read: 2026-11-08 review: machine_checked canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sayward/backyard-fire/" json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sayward/backyard-fire.json" --- # Sayward backyard fire and burning rules **Question:** Can I have a backyard fire or burn yard waste in Sayward? **Short answer:** In Sayward, any open-air fire needs a permit from the Fire Chief, and burning is allowed only for dry garden refuse when there is no alternative. The permit is $75 by the Fees and Charges Bylaw, though the Burning Permits page says $50, and is valid seven days. No permits are issued during a fire ban. **Who handles it:** Municipal (Village of Sayward, https://www.sayward.ca) **Cost:** Permit fee: $75 (Fees and Charges Bylaw, Schedule J). The Burning Permits web page says $50, so confirm. Fine on conviction: up to $2,000, up to six months in jail, or both. **How long:** Each permit is valid for seven days only. **Where:** - Phone: Village Office (open Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., closed holidays), 250-282-5512 - In person: Village Office, 652 H'Kusam Way, Sayward, BC - Online: Online Bylaw Complaint Form, https://www.sayward.ca/form/bylaw-complaint-form - Phone: Fire Chief, 250-282-5505 - Online: Burning Permits page, https://www.sayward.ca/node/947 ## Key facts - **Backyard campfires:** A permit from the Fire Chief is required for any fire of any kind in the open air, January 1 to December 31 (s. 1.04(2)(e)). Charcoal fires in barbecues and hibachis for cooking food are not "open burning". - Source: [Residential Backyard Burning Bylaw No. 272, 1995, s. 1.04(2)(e)](https://www.sayward.ca/sites/1/files/2021-06/Bylaw%20272%20-%20Residential%20Backyard%20Burning.pdf) - Official wording: "no persons shall light, start, ignite or maintain any fire of any kind in the open air between the first day of January and the thirty-first day of December without firstly obtaining a permit from the Fire Chief" - Source: [Residential Backyard Burning Bylaw No. 272, 1995, s. 1.02](https://www.sayward.ca/sites/1/files/2021-06/Bylaw%20272%20-%20Residential%20Backyard%20Burning.pdf) - Official wording: "but it does not include charcoal fires contained within barbecues and hibachis for the purpose of cooking food" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 - **Burning yard waste:** Only dry, segregated garden refuse, with a permit, and only if no alternative (leaf collection, drop-off, chipping) is available. Fire at least 4.6 m from property lines and buildings and 1.5 m from grass, shrubs, trees or wooden fence; supervised by someone 16 or older; not after daylight hours or in high wind. Never garbage or noxious material. - Source: [Residential Backyard Burning Bylaw No. 272, 1995, s. 1.04(2)](https://www.sayward.ca/sites/1/files/2021-06/Bylaw%20272%20-%20Residential%20Backyard%20Burning.pdf) - Official wording: "A person may burn dry, segregated garden refuse as on open fire with a permit provided:" … "the fire is on the person’s property and is at least 4.6 m from all property" … "No person shall burn garbage and/or noxious material in an open fire" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 - **Permit:** Required from the Fire Chief; fee $75 (Fees and Charges Bylaw, Schedule J). Each permit is valid for seven days only. Apply with the form at the Village office by email, mail or in person. (Sources differ: Sources differ: the Burning Permits web page says "Permits have a $50 fee", but Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 451 (edit date May 2026), Schedule J, says $75. The bylaw is followed.) - Source: [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 451 (consolidated, PDF), Schedule J](https://www.sayward.ca/sites/1/files/2026-05/Bylaw%20451%20-%20Fees%20and%20Charges%20Consolidated%20Version%2C%20for%20convenience%20only%20-%20updated%202026.pdf) - Official wording: "FIRE PROTECTIVE SERVICES DESCRIPTION FEE Burning Permit $75.00 Fireworks Permit - Community event $125.00 Fireworks Permit - Film and Television event $250.00" - Source: [Residential Backyard Burning Bylaw No. 272, 1995, s. 1.08(A)](https://www.sayward.ca/sites/1/files/2021-06/Bylaw%20272%20-%20Residential%20Backyard%20Burning.pdf) - Official wording: "shall be valid for seven days only" - Source: [Burning Permits, Burning Permits page](https://www.sayward.ca/node/947) - Official wording: "Permits have a $50 fee." - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 - **Fire bans:** Open burning is prohibited during ban periods set by the Fire Chief (s. 1.03(B)). Permits are only issued when there is no Fire Ban. Check the Village's Fire Prohibitions & Latest News page and bcwildfire.ca for current bans. - Source: [Residential Backyard Burning Bylaw No. 272, 1995, s. 1.03(B)](https://www.sayward.ca/sites/1/files/2021-06/Bylaw%20272%20-%20Residential%20Backyard%20Burning.pdf) - Official wording: "Open burning is prohibited during times specified by the Fire Chief as burning ban periods." - Source: [Burning Permits, Burning Permits page](https://www.sayward.ca/node/947) - Official wording: "Permits are only issued during times when there is no Fire Ban" - Source: [Fire Prohibitions & Latest News, Fire Prohibitions & Latest News page](https://www.sayward.ca/node/726) - Official wording: "Municipalities often follow BC Wildfire Service prohibitions or may impose different prohibitions based on conditions in their local area." … "go to: http://www.bcwildfire.ca" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 - **Instead of burning:** Chipping and the branch bin at the recycling centre. - Source: [Burning Permits, Burning Permits page](https://www.sayward.ca/node/947) - Official wording: "(chipping, branch bin in recycling centre)" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 - **Fine:** On conviction, a fine of up to $2,000, up to six months in jail, or both (s. 1.11(C)). The owner pays the Fire Department's costs of fighting an escaped or prohibited fire (s. 1.09). - Source: [Residential Backyard Burning Bylaw No. 272, 1995, s. 1.11(C)](https://www.sayward.ca/sites/1/files/2021-06/Bylaw%20272%20-%20Residential%20Backyard%20Burning.pdf) - Official wording: "shall be liable to a maximum fine of two thousand dollars ($2000.00) or to" - Source: [Residential Backyard Burning Bylaw No. 272, 1995, s. 1.09](https://www.sayward.ca/sites/1/files/2021-06/Bylaw%20272%20-%20Residential%20Backyard%20Burning.pdf) - Official wording: "The owner shall be liable for all costs and expenses incurred by the Fire Department" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 - **Bylaw:** Residential Backyard Burning Bylaw No. 272, 1995 - Source: [Residential Backyard Burning Bylaw No. 272, 1995, s. 1.01](https://www.sayward.ca/sites/1/files/2021-06/Bylaw%20272%20-%20Residential%20Backyard%20Burning.pdf) - Official wording: "This Bylaw may be cited as the “RESIDENTIAL BACKYARD BURNING BYLAW”" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 ## How it works Under the [Residential Backyard Burning Bylaw No. 272, 1995](), a permit from the Fire Chief is required for any fire of any kind in the open air, January 1 to December 31. Charcoal fires in barbecues and hibachis for cooking food are not "open burning". Permits cover only dry, segregated garden refuse, and only if no alternative (leaf collection, drop-off, chipping) is available. Never burn garbage or noxious material. - Keep the fire at least 4.6 m from property lines and buildings, and 1.5 m from grass, shrubs, trees or a wooden fence. - Someone 16 or older must supervise it. - No burning after daylight hours or in high wind. A "good" forecast ventilation index is also needed. ## Steps 1. Fill out the permit form on the Village's [Burning Permits page]() and return it to the Village Office by email, mail or in person. 2. Pay the fee: $75 under the [Fees and Charges Bylaw]() (Schedule J). The Burning Permits page says $50, so confirm the amount when you apply. 3. Check whether a ban is in force before you light: see the Village's [Fire Prohibitions & Latest News page]() and bcwildfire.ca. ## Good to know - Permits are only issued when there is no fire ban, and open burning is banned during ban periods set by the Fire Chief. - Alternatives are chipping and the branch bin at the recycling centre. - The owner pays the Fire Department's costs of fighting an escaped or prohibited fire. - Fine on conviction: up to $2,000, up to six months in jail, or both. ## Official forms and pages - [Residential Backyard Burning Bylaw No. 272, 1995 (PDF)](https://www.sayward.ca/sites/1/files/2021-06/Bylaw%20272%20-%20Residential%20Backyard%20Burning.pdf) - [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 451 (consolidated, PDF)](https://www.sayward.ca/sites/1/files/2026-05/Bylaw%20451%20-%20Fees%20and%20Charges%20Consolidated%20Version%2C%20for%20convenience%20only%20-%20updated%202026.pdf) - [Burning Permits, Village of Sayward](https://www.sayward.ca/node/947) - [Fire Prohibitions & Latest News, Village of Sayward](https://www.sayward.ca/node/726) ## Related questions - [Sayward fireworks rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sayward/fireworks.md) ## The same question elsewhere - [Backyard fire and burning rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/backyard-fire.md) - [Campbell River](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/campbell-river/backyard-fire.md) - [Gold River](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/gold-river/backyard-fire.md) - [Tahsis](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tahsis/backyard-fire.md) - [Alert Bay](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/alert-bay/backyard-fire.md) - [Courtenay](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/courtenay/backyard-fire.md) - [Cumberland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cumberland/backyard-fire.md) ## Sources - [Residential Backyard Burning Bylaw No. 272, 1995 (PDF)](https://www.sayward.ca/sites/1/files/2021-06/Bylaw%20272%20-%20Residential%20Backyard%20Burning.pdf) (read 2026-11-08) - [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 451 (consolidated, PDF)](https://www.sayward.ca/sites/1/files/2026-05/Bylaw%20451%20-%20Fees%20and%20Charges%20Consolidated%20Version%2C%20for%20convenience%20only%20-%20updated%202026.pdf) (read 2026-11-08) - [Burning Permits, Village of Sayward](https://www.sayward.ca/node/947) (read 2026-11-08) - [Fire Prohibitions & Latest News, Village of Sayward](https://www.sayward.ca/node/726) (read 2026-11-08) _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 Village of Sayward. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sayward/backyard-fire/_