---
title: Silverton backyard fire and burning rules
question: "Can I have a backyard fire or burn yard waste in Silverton?"
place: Silverton, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/silverton
category: Bylaws, noise and complaints
owner: provincial
owner_body: Province of British Columbia
sources_read: 2026-11-08
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/silverton/backyard-fire/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/silverton/backyard-fire.json"
---

# Silverton backyard fire and burning rules

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

**Short answer:** Silverton has no posted fire or burning bylaw, so the Province's rules apply. A Category 1 campfire may be no larger than 0.5 m high by 0.5 m wide, and no permit is mentioned on the Province's page. Check for current bans before lighting any fire.

**Who handles it:** Provincial (Province of British Columbia, https://www2.gov.bc.ca)  
**Cost:** No Village permit fee found.  
**Where:**
- Online: BC Wildfire Service, fire bans and restrictions, https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/wildfire-status/prevention/fire-bans-and-restrictions/open-burning
- Phone: Village Office (ask about local restrictions), 250-358-2472

## Key facts

- **Backyard campfires:** No Village campfire bylaw found. Provincial Category 1 campfire: no larger than 0.5 m high by 0.5 m wide, recreational, not during a Category 1 campfire prohibition, with a fuel break and someone watching with a hand tool or 8 litres of water.
  - Source: [Open burning, Province of British Columbia, Category 1 campfire](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/wildfire-status/prevention/fire-bans-and-restrictions/open-burning)
  - Official wording: "No larger than 0.5 metres high by 0.5 metres wide" … "Have at least one person watching the fire that is equipped with at least one firefighting hand tool or 8 litres of water" … "Not light a fire during a category 1 campfire prohibition"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Burning yard waste:** No Village burning bylaw found. Provincial Category 2 open fire: material in one pile up to 2 m high by 3 m wide (or two such piles), or grass or stubble up to 0.2 ha. Not during a Category 2 prohibition; fuel break, watcher and Ventilation Index check needed.
  - Source: [Open burning, Province of British Columbia, Category 2 open fire](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/wildfire-status/prevention/fire-bans-and-restrictions/open-burning)
  - Official wording: "Material in one pile not exceeding 2 metres in height and 3 metres in width" … "Material concurrently in 2 piles, each not exceeding 2 metres in height and 3 metres in width" … "Not light a fire during a category 2 open fire prohibition" … "check the Ventilation Index Interactive Map to view conditions in your area and see if burning is allowed"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Permit:** Not confirmed. The Province's page does not mention a permit for these fires.
- **Fire bans:** The Province sets burning restrictions through BC Wildfire Service. Check its fire bans and restrictions page before lighting any fire.
  - Source: [Fire Prevention, Regional District of Central Kootenay](https://www.rdck.ca/fire-services/fire-prevention/)
  - Official wording: "The provincial government sets burning restrictions through BC WILDFIRE SERVICE."
  - Source: [Open burning, Province of British Columbia, Intro](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/wildfire-status/prevention/fire-bans-and-restrictions/open-burning)
  - Official wording: "Before lighting a fire of any size, always check for any BC Wildfire Service open fire prohibitions in your area."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Instead of burning:** No Village curbside yard-waste collection found. The RDCK accepts yard and garden waste at its landfills and transfer stations (quantities at transfer stations are restricted); tipping fees apply.
  - Source: [Waste Disposal Services, Regional District of Central Kootenay, Controlled waste table](https://www.rdck.ca/environmental-services/resourcerecovery/waste-disposal/)
  - Official wording: "Yard & Garden Waste | 21 | Landfills and Transfer Stations ONLY" … "*Quantity accepted at transfer stations is restricted."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Fine:** No Village ticket amount found. Provincially, anyone in contravention of an open fire prohibition may be issued a ticket for $1,150.
  - Source: [Open burning, Province of British Columbia, Offences and fines](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/wildfire-status/prevention/fire-bans-and-restrictions/open-burning)
  - Official wording: "Anyone found in contravention of an open fire prohibition may be issued a ticket for $1,150"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** No Village fire or burning bylaw found. The Wildfire Act and Wildfire Regulation apply.
  - Source: [Open burning, Province of British Columbia, Intro](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/wildfire-status/prevention/fire-bans-and-restrictions/open-burning)
  - Official wording: "Everyone in B.C. who lights and maintains an open fire is expected to understand and abide by the Wildfire Act and Wildfire Regulation."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

Silverton posts no fire or burning bylaw, so the Wildfire Act and Wildfire Regulation apply. The Province tells people to check with their local government for bylaw restrictions, so call the Village Office at 250-358-2472 before burning.

## Good to know

- **Campfire (Category 1):** no larger than 0.5 m high by 0.5 m wide, recreational, not during a Category 1 campfire prohibition, with a fuel break and someone watching with a hand tool or 8 litres of water.
- **Open fire (Category 2):** material in one pile up to 2 m high by 3 m wide (or two such piles), or grass or stubble up to 0.2 ha. Not during a Category 2 prohibition. It needs a fuel break, a watcher and a Ventilation Index check.
- The Province's page does not mention a permit for these fires, and no Village burning permit was found.
- Check the [BC Wildfire Service page](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/wildfire-status/prevention/fire-bans-and-restrictions/open-burning) for current bans before lighting any fire.
- Anyone in contravention of an open fire prohibition may be issued a provincial ticket for $1,150. No Village ticket amount was found.
- The Village has no curbside yard-waste collection. The RDCK accepts yard and garden waste at its landfills and transfer stations (tipping fees apply).

## Official forms and pages

- [Open burning, BC Wildfire Service](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/wildfire-status/prevention/fire-bans-and-restrictions/open-burning)

## Related questions

- [Silverton yard waste collection and drop-off](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/silverton/yard-waste.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Backyard fire and burning rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/backyard-fire.md)
- [New Denver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-denver/backyard-fire.md)
- [Kaslo](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kaslo/backyard-fire.md)
- [Nakusp](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nakusp/backyard-fire.md)
- [Nelson](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nelson/backyard-fire.md)
- [Castlegar](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/castlegar/backyard-fire.md)
- [Salmo](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/salmo/backyard-fire.md)

## Sources

- [Open burning, Province of British Columbia](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/wildfire-status/prevention/fire-bans-and-restrictions/open-burning) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Fire Prevention, Regional District of Central Kootenay](https://www.rdck.ca/fire-services/fire-prevention/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Waste Disposal Services, Regional District of Central Kootenay](https://www.rdck.ca/environmental-services/resourcerecovery/waste-disposal/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Memorial Hall, Village of Silverton (Village Office phone)](https://silverton.ca/memorial-hall) (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 could not be confirmed. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with Province of British Columbia. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/silverton/backyard-fire/_