{"title":"Squamish backyard fire and burning rules","question":"Can I have a backyard fire or burn yard waste in Squamish?","slug":"backyard-fire","place":{"path":"ca/bc/squamish","name":"Squamish","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 Squamish","url":"https://squamish.ca"},"short_answer":"Squamish requires a permit for a campfire on residential property. Obtain written consent if you are not the owner. Fires in public places and open burning of yard waste are prohibited year-round.","aliases":[],"cost":null,"how_long":null,"where":[{"type":"phone","label":"Municipal Hall","value":"604-892-5217"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"District fire permit applications","url":"https://squamish.ca/public-safety-services/fire-rescue/fire-permits/"}],"related":[{"slug":"fireworks","title":"Squamish fireworks rules","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/squamish/fireworks/"},{"slug":"yard-waste","title":"Squamish yard waste collection and drop-off","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/squamish/yard-waste/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/lions-bay","name":"Lions Bay","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lions-bay/backyard-fire/"},{"place":"ca/bc/bowen-island","name":"Bowen Island","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/bowen-island/backyard-fire/"},{"place":"ca/bc/west-vancouver","name":"West Vancouver","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-vancouver/backyard-fire/"},{"place":"ca/bc/gibsons","name":"Gibsons","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/gibsons/backyard-fire/"},{"place":"ca/bc/north-vancouver-district","name":"District of North Vancouver","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver-district/backyard-fire/"},{"place":"ca/bc/north-vancouver","name":"North Vancouver","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver/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":"Residential recreational campfires require a permit. Tenants must email the owner’s written consent to the Fire Chief for review.","short":"Yes, with a permit","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://squamish.ca/public-safety-services/fire-rescue/fire-permits/","title":"Types of Fire Permits","section":"Residential campfire permit","quotes":["## Residential Campfire Permit Campfires are for the personal enjoyment of a fire by friends and family on residential property. If you are not the property owner, written consent must be emailed to the Fire Chief at [email protected] for review and approval of permit. Apply for a fire permit."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-09"}},"open_burning":{"label":"Burning yard waste","value":"No open burning of yard or construction waste.","short":"No","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://squamish.ca/public-safety-services/fire-rescue/fire-permits/","title":"Types of Fire Permits","section":"Types of Fire Permits","quotes":["The following are strictly prohibited within the District of Squamish boundaries year round.","* Open Air Burning, including but not limited to, yard waste, garden debris and construction materials."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-09"}},"permit":{"label":"Permit","value":"Squamish requires a permit for a campfire on residential property.","short":"Yes, required for residential campfires","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://squamish.ca/public-safety-services/fire-rescue/fire-permits/","title":"Types of Fire Permits","section":"Residential Campfire Permit","quotes":["## Residential Campfire Permit Campfires are for the personal enjoyment of a fire by friends and family on residential property. If you are not the property owner, written consent must be emailed to the Fire Chief at [email protected] for review and approval of permit. Apply for a fire permit."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-09"}},"fire_bans":{"label":"Fire bans","value":null,"status":"unknown","reason":"not_found","note":"Checked Types of Fire Permits - District of Squamish, Fire Service Bylaw No. 2314, 2014, Residential Campfire Permit - District of Squamish; not found there.","sources":[]},"alternatives":{"label":"Instead of burning","value":"Take excess yard material to the Squamish Landfill Public Depot for a fee.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://squamish.ca/home-and-property/recycling-and-waste-management/residential-garbage-and-waste-collection/","title":"Curbside Collection","section":"Organics Collection","quotes":["If you have more organic or yard waste than you can fit in your tote, you can stockpile it until you can fit it in your tote at a later date, use a backyard composter, leave grass clippings on the lawn, take it to the Squamish Landfill Public Depot for a small fee, or ask your neighbours if they have any extra space."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-09"}},"fine":{"label":"Fine","value":"An open-air fire without a permit carries a $250 notice ($225 within 14 days, $275 after 28 days). Inadequate campfire supervision carries $100 ($90 early, $110 late).","short":"Notice $250 ($225 if paid in 14 days)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://squamish.civicweb.net/document/200801","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2418, 2015 (PDF)","section":"Section 5 and Fire Service schedule, sections 11.1 and 12.1","quotes":["(b)    if received by the District within fourteen (14) days of the person receiving or being presumed to have received the bylaw notice, the discounted penalty set out in Column 2 opposite the contravention; (c)    if more than twenty-eight (28) days after the person received or is presumed to have received the bylaw notice, the late penalty set out in Column 3 opposite the contravention; or","11.1         Burning in open air without          $250             $225                 $275        Yes permit 12.1(c)      Inadequate supervision –             $100                $90               $110         No campfire 12.1(e)      Campfire smoke creating              $100                $90               $110         No nuisance"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-09"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"District of Squamish Fire Service Bylaw No. 2314, 2014.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://squamish.civicweb.net/document/118984/","title":"Fire Service Bylaw No. 2314, 2014 (PDF)","section":"Sections 1.1 and 11.1","quotes":["1.1    This Bylaw may be cited for all purposes as the “District of Squamish Fire Service Bylaw No. 2314, 2014”.","11.1   A person must not light, ignite, start, fuel or maintain a campfire or any open air fire, or direct, cause, permit, allow or suffer a campfire or any open air fire to be lit, ignited, started, or maintained, except: (a) for fire training exercises or other purposes of the Fire Department , as carried out by its Members; (b) in strict accordance with this Bylaw and a permit issued by the Fire Chief or designated Fire Official."]}],"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. Take excess yard material to the Squamish Landfill Public Depot for a fee.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Check the local fire instructions in [Types of Fire Permits](https://squamish.ca/public-safety-services/fire-rescue/fire-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- No open burning of yard or construction waste.\n- Residential recreational campfires require a permit. Tenants must email the owner’s written consent to the Fire Chief for review.\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 604-892-5217. Describe the appliance or fuel and whether the location is private property or a public site.\n- Read the applicable provisions in [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2418, 2015 (PDF)](https://squamish.civicweb.net/document/200801) and [Fire Service Bylaw No. 2314, 2014 (PDF)](https://squamish.civicweb.net/document/118984/).","sources":[{"url":"https://squamish.ca/public-safety-services/fire-rescue/fire-permits/","title":"Types of Fire Permits","accessed":"2026-11-09"},{"url":"https://squamish.ca/home-and-property/recycling-and-waste-management/residential-garbage-and-waste-collection/","title":"Curbside Collection","accessed":"2026-11-09"},{"url":"https://squamish.civicweb.net/document/200801","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2418, 2015 (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-09"},{"url":"https://squamish.civicweb.net/document/118984/","title":"Fire Service Bylaw No. 2314, 2014 (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-09"},{"url":"https://squamish.ca/about/contact-and-feedback/","title":"Squamish 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/squamish/backyard-fire/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/squamish/backyard-fire.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/squamish/backyard-fire.json"}}