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Spallumcheen backyard fire and burning rules

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

Spallumcheen, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-06

Short answer

In the Township of Spallumcheen, residents may burn untreated wood and prunings without a permit from November 1 to April 30 unless a ban is on, but never in R.1 or R.5 zones. Campfires: the bylaw bars them on R.1 and R.5 lots, while the Township's page says allowed in all zones. Confirm before lighting.

Key facts

Backyard campfiresAllowed in all zones unless a campfire ban is in effect: no bigger than 0.5 m high and 0.5 m wide, in a non-combustible base with edging, for cooking, recreation or ceremony, dry untreated wood only. Venting index must be at least 'good'; a competent person 18 or older must supervise until it is out, with tools on hand, and the fire kept away from property lines, timber, brush and structures.Sources differ: The Fire Prevention Bylaw defines open burning to include campfires and bars open burning at any time on R.1 and R.5 lots (s. 4.1(a)(i)(a)); the Township's page says campfires are allowed in all zones. Confirm with the Township.Fire Prevention Bylaw No. 2049, 2021 (consolidated with Bylaw 2153), s. 4.2(a); Open Burning, Open Burning page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
is no larger than 0.5 meters in height and 0.5 meters in width;
is contained in a non-combustible base with edging;
burns dry untreated wood only;
present and supervises the campfire at all times while it is burning or
is not ignited or burned while a Campfire ban is in effect
Campfires are permitted in all land use zones of Spallumcheen provided there isn’t a campfire ban issued in our area
Burning yard wasteResidents, farmers and orchardists may burn untreated wood, prunings, branches, trunks and stumps without a permit from November 1 to April 30, unless a ban is on. Grass clippings, leaves, needles, garden waste and weeds may not be burned. Never in R.1 or R.5 zones. Keep 5 m from property lines, timber, brush and structures; venting index at least 'good'.Fire Prevention Bylaw No. 2049, 2021 (consolidated with Bylaw 2153), s. 4.1(a); Open Burning, Open Burning page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
shall be allowed without a Permit from November 1 each year to
April 30 of the following year unless an open burning fire ban has been
of Spallumcheen Zoning Bylaw, as amended from time to time, shall not
be permitted to open burn at any time
not less than 5 metres from property lines
untreated wood, prunings, branches, tree trunks, tree stumps; and
that are naturally biodegradable, including grass clippings, leaves, tree needles, garden waste
“Prohibited Materials” means materials that must not be subject to Open Burning which include
open burning is explicitly PROHIBITED in the Residential R1 and R5 Zones
R1 Zone includes McLeod Subdivision and Udy Subdivision.
PermitNo permit for burning vegetation from November 1 to April 30. A permit from the Fire Chief is required to burn on land being cleared. Apply at the Township office at least five business days before the burn. The fee schedule shows 'Fire Permit' at no charge.Fire Prevention Bylaw No. 2049, 2021 (consolidated with Bylaw 2153), s. 4.1(a)(i), (viii)(d); Open Burning, Open Burning page; Fees and Charges Bylaw (fire permit line), Appendix 7 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
shall be allowed without a Permit from November 1 each year to
land being cleared or partially cleared of Vegetation including wood,
trees, stumps, shrubbery or woody debris without a valid Permit issued
a minimum of five business days prior to the scheduled open burn
a Solid fuel appliance Permit $ 30.00 $ 30.00 b Fire Permit No charge No charge For further details, please reference the current Township of Spallumcheen Fire Prevention Bylaw.
Fire bansThe Fire Chief can issue an open burning or campfire ban; no burning or campfires while one is in effect. Before burning, check the Environment Canada venting index (Township page gives 1-888-281-2992).Fire Prevention Bylaw No. 2049, 2021 (consolidated with Bylaw 2153), s. 4.2(a)(x); s. 4.1(a)(i); Open Burning, Open Burning page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
is not ignited or burned while a Campfire ban is in effect as stipulated by the
unless an open burning fire ban has been
call 1-888-281-2992 to determine if the venting index is adequate for burning
Instead of burningResidential yard and garden waste can be taken to the Regional District of North Okanagan (RDNO) Armstrong/Spallumcheen Transfer Station, 3367 Powerhouse Road; the RDNO fee list shows residential yard and garden waste at $0. The Township does not provide curbside garbage collection.Armstrong/Spallumcheen Transfer Station, Regional District of North Okanagan, RDNO facility page; Diversion & Disposal Fees | Regional District of North Okanagan, RDNO fee list; Garbage and Recycling, Garbage and Recycling page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
Yard & Garden Waste at the Armstrong/Spallumcheen Transfer Station is currently restricted
Address: 3367 Powerhouse Road, 1km North of Armstrong on Highway 97
Yard and Garden Waste - Residential
$0.00
Residential garbage collection is not provided by the Township of Spallumcheen.
FineMunicipal tickets: burning prohibited materials (burn barrel, garbage, land clearing without a permit) $550 ($500 if paid within 14 days), $1,000 ($950) second offence; open burning outside the allowed dates $1,000 ($950); burning in R.1/R.5, or breaking a campfire ban $500 ($250); fire out of control $1,000 ($950); campfire rules $250 ($200).Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 2023, 2021, Schedule B.5; Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 2023, 2021, s. 4(a) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
Lighting a fire when Prohibited $500.00 $250.00
Open Burning outside of the required dates $1,000.00 $950.00
Failure to comply when a Campfire Ban is
Open Burning when Prohibited (R.1 & R.5
Failure to comply with Campfire $250.00 $200.00
Not following the venting index $75.00 $50.00
Prohibited Burning & Materials:
Open Burning outside of the required dates
If received by the Township within 14 days of the person receiving or
BylawTownship of Spallumcheen Fire Prevention Bylaw No. 2049, 2021Fire Prevention Bylaw No. 2049, 2021 (consolidated with Bylaw 2153), footer · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
Township of Spallumcheen Fire Prevention Bylaw No. 2049, 2021

How it works

The Fire Prevention Bylaw No. 2049 covers open burning and campfires in the Township. The Fire Chief can issue an open burning or campfire ban, and no burning or campfires are allowed while one is in effect. To find out whether a ban is on now, ask the Township office or the Fire Department.

Steps

  1. Check the Environment Canada venting index (1-888-281-2992). It must be at least "good".
  2. From November 1 to April 30, residents, farmers and orchardists may burn untreated wood, prunings, branches, trunks and stumps without a permit, unless a ban is on. Keep 5 m from property lines, timber, brush and structures.
  3. To burn on land being cleared, get a permit from the Fire Chief. Apply at the Township office at least five business days before the burn.

Good to know

  • Not allowed: grass clippings, leaves, needles, garden waste and weeds; burn barrels; household garbage. Open burning is never allowed in R.1 or R.5 zones.
  • Campfires: no bigger than 0.5 m high and 0.5 m wide, in a non-combustible base with edging, for cooking, recreation or ceremony, dry untreated wood only. A competent person 18 or older must supervise until it is out, with tools on hand. The Township's page says campfires are allowed in all zones, but the bylaw bars them on R.1 and R.5 lots. Confirm with the Township.
  • Residential yard and garden waste can go to the Regional District of North Okanagan (RDNO) Armstrong/Spallumcheen Transfer Station, 3367 Powerhouse Road, at $0. The Township does not provide curbside garbage collection.
  • Tickets: burning prohibited materials $550 ($500 if paid within 14 days), $1,000 ($950) second offence; open burning outside the allowed dates $1,000 ($950); burning in R.1/R.5 or breaking a campfire ban $500 ($250); fire out of control $1,000 ($950); campfire rules $250 ($200).
  • Fire department call costs may also be charged.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Armstrong · Enderby · Vernon · Coldstream · Lumby · Lake Country

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

Sources

  1. Fire Prevention Bylaw No. 2049, 2021 (consolidated with Bylaw 2153) (PDF), Township of Spallumcheen (read 2026-11-06)
  2. Open Burning, Township of Spallumcheen (read 2026-11-06)
  3. Fees and Charges Bylaw (fire permit line) (PDF), Township of Spallumcheen (read 2026-11-06)
  4. Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 2023, 2021 (PDF), Township of Spallumcheen (read 2026-11-06)
  5. Armstrong/Spallumcheen Transfer Station, Regional District of North Okanagan (read 2026-11-06)
  6. Garbage and Recycling, Township of Spallumcheen (read 2026-11-06)
  7. Diversion & Disposal Fees | Regional District of North Okanagan (read 2026-11-06)

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.