---
title: Sidney backyard fire and burning rules
question: "Can I have a backyard fire or burn yard waste in Sidney?"
place: Sidney, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/sidney
category: Bylaws, noise and complaints
owner: municipal
owner_body: Town of Sidney
sources_read: 2026-11-06
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sidney/backyard-fire/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sidney/backyard-fire.json"
---

# Sidney backyard fire and burning rules

**Question:** Can I have a backyard fire or burn yard waste in Sidney?

**Short answer:** No. Sidney does not allow open burning, including wood-burning fires and beach fires. The Fire Department says propane and charcoal fire pits are permitted. A bylaw notice for prohibited burning is $325; a municipal ticket is $325.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Town of Sidney, https://www.sidney.ca)  
**Cost:** Prohibited burning: bylaw notice $325 ($250 within 14 days, $390 after 28 days); municipal ticket $325 ($250 within 30 days). No permit is issued for ordinary backyard burning.  
**How long:** not applicable  
**Where:**
- Phone: Sidney Fire Department, 250-656-2121
- Email: Sidney Fire Department, firedept@sidney.ca

## Key facts

- **Backyard campfires:** Wood-burning fires are not permitted in Sidney, including beach fires. The Fire Department says propane and charcoal fire pits are permitted.
  - Source: [Fire Regulation Bylaw No. 2087, 2016, s. 39](https://www.sidney.ca/wp-content/uploads/2087-Fire-Dept-Fire-Regs.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Burning within the Town of Sidney is not permitted." … "as well as beach fires."
  - Source: [Fire Services, FAQs](https://www.sidney.ca/services/emergency-services/fire-services/)
  - Official wording: "Wood burning within the Town of Sidney is not permitted." … "Propane and charcoal fire pits are permitted."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Burning yard waste:** Not allowed. The bylaw prohibits burning of residential, construction site, demolition site or land-clearing waste.
  - Source: [Fire Regulation Bylaw No. 2087, 2016, s. 39](https://www.sidney.ca/wp-content/uploads/2087-Fire-Dept-Fire-Regs.pdf)
  - Official wording: "This prohibition includes the burning" … "of residential, construction site, demolition site or land-clearing waste"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Permit:** No permit is issued for ordinary backyard burning. The Fire Chief or Fire Prevention Officer may issue special permits for fires at community events such as Halloween or July 1st.
  - Source: [Fire Regulation Bylaw No. 2087, 2016, s. 39(a)](https://www.sidney.ca/wp-content/uploads/2087-Fire-Dept-Fire-Regs.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Special permits for fires at community events, such as Halloween, July 1st, etc. may" … "be issued at the discretion of the Fire Chief or Fire Prevention Officer."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fire bans:** Not confirmed. The Town's pages describe no separate fire ban procedure.
- **Instead of burning:** Curbside yard and garden waste collection for homes on the Town's Full Service refuse plan, or drop-off at regional facilities (Peninsula Landscape Supplies, DL's Recycling Centre, Hartland Landfill, Farm to Garden Organics).
  - Source: [Yard and Garden Waste, Collection Information; Other Yard Waste Options](https://www.sidney.ca/services/garbage-recycle/yard-and-garden-waste)
  - Official wording: "Yard Waste collection takes place twice per month." … "there are a few regional facilities that accept yard and garden waste."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** Prohibited burning (s. 39): bylaw notice $325 ($250 if paid within 14 days; $390 after 28 days). Municipal ticket: $325 ($250 if paid within 30 days).
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2239, Schedule C, Fire Regulation Bylaw No. 2087, s. 39](https://www.sidney.ca/wp-content/uploads/2239-Bylaw-Notice-Enforcement-CON.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Prohibited 39 $325.00 $250.00 $390.00"
  - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 2180, Schedule 5, s. 39](https://www.sidney.ca/wp-content/uploads/2180-MTI-consolidated.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Prohibited Burning 39 $325.00 $250.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Sidney Fire Department Service Level Establishment and Fire Regulation Bylaw No. 2087
  - Source: [Fire Regulation Bylaw No. 2087, 2016, s. 1](https://www.sidney.ca/wp-content/uploads/2087-Fire-Dept-Fire-Regs.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Sidney Fire Department Service Level Establishment and Fire Regulation Bylaw No. 2087"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The [Fire Regulation Bylaw No. 2087](https://www.sidney.ca/wp-content/uploads/2087-Fire-Dept-Fire-Regs.pdf) prohibits burning of residential, construction site, demolition site or land-clearing waste. Wood-burning fires are not permitted in Sidney, including beach fires. The Fire Department's FAQ says propane and charcoal fire pits are permitted.

## Good to know

- No permit is issued for ordinary backyard burning. The Fire Chief or Fire Prevention Officer may issue special permits for community events such as Halloween or July 1st.
- No size rules for fire pits were found. Confirm with the Fire Department at 250-656-2121 or firedept@sidney.ca.
- Instead of burning, use curbside yard and garden waste collection (for homes on the Town's Full Service plan) or drop off at regional facilities. See the yard waste answer.
- Fines: a bylaw notice is $325 ($250 if paid within 14 days; $390 after 28 days); a municipal ticket is $325 ($250 if paid within 30 days).
- Because all open burning is already prohibited, the Town pages describe no separate fire ban procedure.

## Official forms and pages

- [Fire Services, Town of Sidney](https://www.sidney.ca/services/emergency-services/fire-services/)
- [Fire Regulation Bylaw No. 2087 (PDF)](https://www.sidney.ca/wp-content/uploads/2087-Fire-Dept-Fire-Regs.pdf)

## Related questions

- [Sidney yard waste collection and drop-off](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sidney/yard-waste.md)
- [Sidney fireworks rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sidney/fireworks.md)
- [Sidney bylaw fines and how tickets work](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sidney/bylaw-fines.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Backyard fire and burning rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/backyard-fire.md)
- [North Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-saanich/backyard-fire.md)
- [Central Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/central-saanich/backyard-fire.md)
- [Highlands](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/highlands/backyard-fire.md)
- [Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/saanich/backyard-fire.md)
- [View Royal](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/view-royal/backyard-fire.md)
- [Langford](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langford/backyard-fire.md)

## Sources

- [Fire Regulation Bylaw No. 2087, 2016 (PDF)](https://www.sidney.ca/wp-content/uploads/2087-Fire-Dept-Fire-Regs.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Fire Services, Town of Sidney](https://www.sidney.ca/services/emergency-services/fire-services/) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Yard and Garden Waste, Town of Sidney](https://www.sidney.ca/services/garbage-recycle/yard-and-garden-waste) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2239 (PDF)](https://www.sidney.ca/wp-content/uploads/2239-Bylaw-Notice-Enforcement-CON.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 2180 (PDF)](https://www.sidney.ca/wp-content/uploads/2180-MTI-consolidated.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)

_Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 6 of 7 facts was matched to the official text; 1 could not be confirmed. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with Town of Sidney. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sidney/backyard-fire/_