{"title":"Sparwood backyard fire and burning rules","question":"Can I have a backyard fire or burn yard waste in Sparwood?","slug":"backyard-fire","place":{"path":"ca/bc/sparwood","name":"Sparwood","region":{"code":"bc","name":"British Columbia"},"country":{"code":"ca","name":"Canada"}},"category":{"slug":"bylaws-and-complaints","name":"Bylaws, noise and complaints"},"owner":"municipal","owner_label":"Municipal","owner_body":{"name":"District of Sparwood","url":"https://www.sparwood.ca"},"short_answer":"Sparwood offers a free permit for a fire pit or outdoor fireplace. Apply online or through the municipal office. The permit holder must keep the fire supervised until it is completely out.","aliases":[],"cost":null,"how_long":null,"where":[{"type":"phone","label":"Municipal Hall","value":"250-425-6271"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Burning Permits","url":"https://www.sparwood.ca/residents/burning-permits/"}],"related":[{"slug":"fireworks","title":"Sparwood fireworks rules","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sparwood/fireworks/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/fernie","name":"Fernie","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fernie/backyard-fire/"},{"place":"ca/bc/elkford","name":"Elkford","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/elkford/backyard-fire/"},{"place":"ca/bc/cranbrook","name":"Cranbrook","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cranbrook/backyard-fire/"},{"place":"ca/bc/kimberley","name":"Kimberley","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kimberley/backyard-fire/"},{"place":"ca/bc/canal-flats","name":"Canal Flats","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/canal-flats/backyard-fire/"},{"place":"ca/bc/invermere","name":"Invermere","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/invermere/backyard-fire/"}],"topic":{"title":"Backyard fire and burning rules in British Columbia, by municipality","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/backyard-fire/"},"facts":{"campfires":{"label":"Backyard campfires","value":"A fire pit or outdoor fireplace requires a free permit and supervision until fully extinguished. Keep flames within the District’s 90 cm limit above the pit.","short":"Yes, with a free permit","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.sparwood.ca/residents/burning-permits/","title":"Burning Permits","section":"Backyard firepits and outdoor fireplaces","quotes":["## Backyard Firepits To ensure the safety of our residents and community, the District of Sparwood restricts the acts of open air burning and the selling and discharge of fireworks in the community in accordance with Parts 7 and 9 of Fire Services Bylaw 974, 2008. There is no charge for a free burning or a fire pit/outdoor fireplace permit. Applications may be obtained at the District of Sparwood Municipal Office, Monday to Friday between 8:30 am – 4:00 pm. All permit holders must ensure that the fire is supervised by a competent person while it is burning or smouldering at all times until it is completely extinguished. In the event that an incident results from a free burning fire, fire pit or outdoor fireplace, the property owner (as identified on the permit), will be liable for all costs and expenses for the Fire Department to respond to the incident in accordance with Schedule B of Fire Services Bylaw 974, 2008.","### Fire Pits & Outdoor Fireplaces Permits Fire pits and outdoor fireplaces shall be: * Designed to limit or reduce the danger of fire escaping from the outdoor fire pit or fireplace; * Located with a minimum of 3.4 meters (10 feet) clearance from buildings, structures, property lines or combustible materials and shall be free of overhead combustibles such as overhead buildings, structures, trees or other things; and Constructed of non-combustible components; * The sole responsibility of the permit holder to ensure compliance with Fire Services Bylaw 974, 2008 and that no hazard or nuisance is created as a result of their fire pit/outdoor fireplace and that the flames are no higher than ninety (90) cm (3.28 feet) above the fire pit."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-09"}},"open_burning":{"label":"Burning yard waste","value":"Open burning of combustible material requires the Fire Chief’s permit and is subject to the venting index.","short":"Only with a Fire Chief permit","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.sparwood.ca/residents/burning-permits/","title":"Burning Permits","section":"Free (open air) Burning Permits","quotes":["Open burning is the burning of combustible materials in such a manner that the products of combustion are emitted directly to the atmosphere. Free burning, as defined under Fire Services Bylaw 974, 2008, is an outdoor fire not contained within a fire pit or outdoor fire place (for which a permit has been issued), not including an outdoor grill utilized for cooking purposes. The open burning of refuse and combustible materials is prohibited unless conducted in strict accordance with Fire Services Bylaw 974, 2008, and a permit has been issued by the Fire Chief. The Fire Chief may refuse to issue, suspend or cancel a permit if allowing the fire is likely to cause a hazardous condition or nuisance, or impose restrictions on the size of the fire. Burning is subject to the venting index, determined by the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change Strategy (MOECCS). MOECCS is mandated to regulate smoke emissions from open burning under the Environmental Management Act and the Open Burning Smoke Control Regulation. MOECCS uses Environment and Climate Change Canada’s generated venting and weather information to regulate where and when burning is permitted within timber supply areas."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-09"}},"permit":{"label":"Permit","value":"Sparwood offers a free permit for a fire pit or outdoor fireplace.","short":"Yes, free","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.sparwood.ca/residents/burning-permits/","title":"Burning Permits","section":"Backyard Firepits","quotes":["To ensure the safety of our residents and community, the District of Sparwood restricts the acts of open air burning and the selling and discharge of fireworks in the community in accordance with Parts 7 and 9 of Fire Services Bylaw 974, 2008. There is no charge for a free burning or a fire pit/outdoor fireplace permit. Applications may be obtained at the District of Sparwood Municipal Office, Monday to Friday between 8:30 am – 4:00 pm."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-09"}},"fire_bans":{"label":"Fire bans","value":null,"status":"unknown","reason":"not_found","note":"Checked Burning Permits: District of Sparwood, B.C; not found there.","sources":[]},"alternatives":{"label":"Instead of burning","value":"Use the compost site by the Sparwood Heights ball fields or the site by the fire hall at the end of Englemann Spruce Drive.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.sparwood.ca/residents/garbage-recycling","title":"Garbage & Recycling","section":"Leaf & Yard Waste","quotes":["The District of Sparwood offers two composting sites for the public to manage their yard waste – one is located by the ball fields in Sparwood Heights, and the other is near the Fire Hall at the end of Englemann Spruce Drive. The District would like to remind anybody using these compost boxes that compost, yard waste and lawns are all organic substances, and they all factor “organically” into the District’s waste reduction program."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-09"}},"fine":{"label":"Fine","value":"An outdoor fire without the required permit is $200 ($100 within 14 days). Burning prohibited materials outdoors is $250 ($125 early).","short":"$200 ($100 if paid in 14 days)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://sparwood.civicweb.net/document/151894","title":"Bylaw Enforcement Notice Bylaw 1333, 2024 (PDF)","section":"Section 5.1(b) and Fire Services schedule, Part 7, section 25","quotes":["b. if payment is received by the District within 14 days of the person receiving or being presumed to have received the bylaw notice, the Early Payment.","Part 7,25 (a)   Fail to obtain Permit for outdoor fire                                         $200.00    $100.00          No Part 7,25 (b)   Burning prohibited materials outdoors                                          $250.00    $125.00          No Part 7,25 (c)   Transfer a Permit                                                              $100.00    $50.00           No Part 7, 27     Fire causing a hazardous condition or nuisance                                 $250.00    $125.00          No"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-09"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Fire Services Bylaw No. 974, 2008, Part 7.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.sparwood.ca/residents/burning-permits/","title":"Burning Permits","section":"Backyard Firepits","quotes":["To ensure the safety of our residents and community, the District of Sparwood restricts the acts of open air burning and the selling and discharge of fireworks in the community in accordance with Parts 7 and 9 of Fire Services Bylaw 974, 2008. There is no charge for a free burning or a fire pit/outdoor fireplace permit. Applications may be obtained at the District of Sparwood Municipal Office, Monday to Friday between 8:30 am – 4:00 pm."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-09"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":7,"stated":6,"matched":6,"none":0,"unknown":1},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nThe first question is what you intend to burn and why. A small fire for recreation, a cooking appliance and burning vegetation can fall under different provisions. Check the current restriction for the site and activity before lighting anything. Use the compost site by the Sparwood Heights ball fields or the site by the fire hall at the end of Englemann Spruce Drive.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Check the local fire instructions in [Burning Permits](https://www.sparwood.ca/residents/burning-permits/). Identify the fuel, appliance or fire pit, property address and intended date. Match those details to the local fire rules.\n2. If the activity needs approval, check the conditions of the approval and the current fire restrictions on the day you intend to burn.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- Open burning of combustible material requires the Fire Chief’s permit and is subject to the venting index.\n- A fire pit or outdoor fireplace requires a free permit and supervision until fully extinguished. Keep flames within the District’s 90 cm limit above the pit.\n- For pruning or garden cleanup, look up local yard-waste disposal options before accumulating a pile for burning.\n- For a question about the current fire restriction and the type of fire you have in mind, call the Municipal Hall at 250-425-6271. Describe the appliance or fuel and whether the location is private property or a public site.\n- Read the applicable provisions in [Bylaw Enforcement Notice Bylaw 1333, 2024 (PDF)](https://sparwood.civicweb.net/document/151894).","sources":[{"url":"https://www.sparwood.ca/residents/burning-permits/","title":"Burning Permits","accessed":"2026-11-09"},{"url":"https://www.sparwood.ca/residents/garbage-recycling","title":"Garbage & Recycling","accessed":"2026-11-09"},{"url":"https://sparwood.civicweb.net/document/151894","title":"Bylaw Enforcement Notice Bylaw 1333, 2024 (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-09"},{"url":"https://www.sparwood.ca/municipal-hall/contact","title":"Sparwood municipal office contact information","accessed":"2026-11-09"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-09","review":{"status":"machine_checked","badge":"Checked against official text","label":"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."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sparwood/backyard-fire/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sparwood/backyard-fire.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sparwood/backyard-fire.json"}}