Sayward backyard fire and burning rules
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.
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".Residential Backyard Burning Bylaw No. 272, 1995, s. 1.04(2)(e); Residential Backyard Burning Bylaw No. 272, 1995, s. 1.02 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingno 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 but it does not include charcoal fires contained within barbecues and hibachis for the purpose of cooking food |
|---|---|
| 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.Residential Backyard Burning Bylaw No. 272, 1995, s. 1.04(2) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingA 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 |
| 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.Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 451 (consolidated, PDF), Schedule J; Residential Backyard Burning Bylaw No. 272, 1995, s. 1.08(A); Burning Permits, Burning Permits page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingFIRE PROTECTIVE SERVICES DESCRIPTION FEE Burning Permit $75.00 Fireworks Permit - Community event $125.00 Fireworks Permit - Film and Television event $250.00 shall be valid for seven days only Permits have a $50 fee. |
| 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.Residential Backyard Burning Bylaw No. 272, 1995, s. 1.03(B); Burning Permits, Burning Permits page; Fire Prohibitions & Latest News, Fire Prohibitions & Latest News page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingOpen burning is prohibited during times specified by the Fire Chief as burning ban periods. Permits are only issued during times when there is no Fire Ban 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 |
| Instead of burning | Chipping and the branch bin at the recycling centre.Burning Permits, Burning Permits page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wording(chipping, branch bin in recycling centre) |
| 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).Residential Backyard Burning Bylaw No. 272, 1995, s. 1.11(C); Residential Backyard Burning Bylaw No. 272, 1995, s. 1.09 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingshall be liable to a maximum fine of two thousand dollars ($2000.00) or to The owner shall be liable for all costs and expenses incurred by the Fire Department |
| Bylaw | Residential Backyard Burning Bylaw No. 272, 1995Residential Backyard Burning Bylaw No. 272, 1995, s. 1.01 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingThis Bylaw may be cited as the “RESIDENTIAL BACKYARD BURNING BYLAW” |
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
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
The same question in other places
Campbell River · Gold River · Tahsis · Alert Bay · Courtenay · Cumberland
Backyard fire and burning rules in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Residential Backyard Burning Bylaw No. 272, 1995 (PDF) (read 2026-11-08)
- Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 451 (consolidated, PDF) (read 2026-11-08)
- Burning Permits, Village of Sayward (read 2026-11-08)
- Fire Prohibitions & Latest News, Village of Sayward (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. How answers are checked.