Sun Peaks backyard fire and burning rules
Can I have a backyard fire or burn yard waste in Sun Peaks?
Short answer
In Sun Peaks, burning garden waste needs a free burn permit from Sun Peaks Fire Rescue (call 250-578-8985 before 5 p.m.; permits are issued the day of burning). Campfires up to 0.5 m high and wide need an approved fire pit 5 m from structures; confirm whether a permit is needed.
Key facts
| Backyard campfires | Campfires (recreational open fires up to 0.5 m high and wide) need a Fire Rescue-approved non-combustible fire pit at least 5 m from any structure, out by 11:00 p.m. The bylaw lists them as both needing a permit (s. 10.3) and not needing one (s. 10.4); confirm with Fire Rescue.Sources differ: Conflict on permit: bylaw s. 10.3(a)(iii) lists campfires among burning the Fire Chief may issue a permit for, but s. 10.4(a)(iv) says a permit is not required for "Campfires, Propane fueled decorative (CSA Approved) fire pits". The burn permit page says outside burning without a permit is prohibited and lists campfires under permits. Confirm with Sun Peaks Fire Rescue (250-578-8985).Fire & Life Safety Bylaw No. 0007, 2010, Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality, s. 10.3(e) and definitions; Burn Permits, Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality, Burn Permits page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingCampfires are only to be ignited and burned in a non-combustible fire pit that is inspected and approved by Sun Peaks Fire Rescue and that is situated a minimum of 5 m (16.5 ft.) from any structure and shall be Camp Fire means an open fire that burns piled material no larger than 0.5 m A permit is not required for: Campfires, Propane fueled decorative (CSA Approved) fire pits. Camp fires are only to be ignited and burned in a non-combustible fire pit that is inspected and approved by Sun Peaks Fire Rescue |
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| Burning yard waste | Backyard burning of grass and weeds, garden waste, tree clippings, dead leaves and dead grass in small fires needs a permit, may only occur in daylight hours, and requires a person 18 or older in attendance until the fire is out. Not allowed when the Fire Danger Rating is HIGH or EXTREME or the venting index is not appropriate. Burning construction, commercial or industrial waste is prohibited.Fire & Life Safety Bylaw No. 0007, 2010, Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality, s. 10.2, 10.3, 10.5 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingno person shall light, ignite or start, or allow or tree clippings, dead leaves and dead grass resulting from the cleaning of gardens and yards in small fires. may only occur during Permits are not issue when Fire Danger Rating is HIGH or EXTREME. To ensure air quality is maintained, the venting index must be appropriate. All commercial and industrial burning of waste and the destruction by burning |
| Permit | Yes. Burn permits are free and issued by Sun Peaks Fire Rescue by phone at 250-578-8985 before 5 p.m.; all permits are issued on the day of burning.Burn Permits, Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality, Burn Permits page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingBurn Permits are available, free of charge, by contacting Sun Peaks Fire Rescue at 250-578-8985 before 5pm. All permits are issued on the day of burning. |
| Fire bans | The Fire Chief may order a complete or partial ban of open burning at any time and for any duration. Permits are not issued when the Danger Class is HIGH or EXTREME; the page links the BC Wildfire Service Danger Class report for the Kamloops Zone (Cahilty weather station, not active in winter).Fire & Life Safety Bylaw No. 0007, 2010, Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality, s. 10.1; Burn Permits, Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality, Burn Permits page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingThe Fire Chief may order a complete, or partial, ban of open burning at any time and for any duration. If the Danger Class is HIGH or EXTREME, permits will not be issued. the Danger Class for the Cahilty weather station |
| Instead of burning | Yard waste is not on the Sun Peaks Transfer Station's accepted list. Residents can take it to the TNRD Heffley Creek Eco-Depot, 7381 Sullivan Valley Road, where residential yard waste is free; check TNRD for hours.Heffley Creek Eco-Depot, Thompson-Nicola Regional District, What Goes Where; Address · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingAddress: 7381 Sullivan Valley Road Yard Waste | Residential: Free to Recycle |
| Fine | Bylaw notice: $300 for outside burning during a ban; $200 for outside burning without a permit; $200 for breaking permit conditions; $100 for burning construction, commercial or industrial waste. The owner also pays the Municipality's costs when the fire department responds to unsafe open air burning.Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 0011, 2010, Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality, Schedule D; Fire & Life Safety Bylaw No. 0007, 2010, Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality, s. 10.6 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wording10.1 Outside burning during ban 10.3 Outside burning without a permit $300 $200 10.4 Burning of construction / commercial or industrial waste The owner of property or premises shall pay as an extraordinary fee, all costs, |
| Bylaw | Fire & Life Safety Bylaw No. 0007, 2010 (Part 10, Outside Burning)Fire & Life Safety Bylaw No. 0007, 2010, Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality, Title · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingFire & Life Safety Bylaw 2010 No. 0007 PART 10 – OUTSIDE BURNING |
How it works
Outside burning in Sun Peaks is governed by Part 10 of the Fire & Life Safety Bylaw No. 0007. Burn permits are free and issued by Sun Peaks Fire Rescue by phone at 250-578-8985 before 5 p.m.; all permits are issued on the day of burning.
Good to know
- Yard waste: burning grass and weeds, garden waste, tree clippings, dead leaves and dead grass in small fires needs a permit, may happen only in daylight hours, and needs a person 18 or older in attendance until the fire is out. It is not allowed when the Fire Danger Rating is HIGH or EXTREME or the venting index is not appropriate. Burning construction, commercial or industrial waste is prohibited. The Fire Chief may limit the number of fires at one time and place.
- Campfires: recreational fires up to 0.5 m high and wide need a Fire Rescue-approved non-combustible fire pit at least 5 m from any structure, and must be out by 11:00 p.m. The bylaw lists campfires as both needing a permit and not needing one, so confirm with Fire Rescue.
- Bans: the Fire Chief may order a complete or partial ban at any time, and permits are not issued when the Danger Class is HIGH or EXTREME. The current ban status is not on the burn permit page; call Fire Rescue to check.
- Instead of burning: yard waste is not accepted at the Sun Peaks Transfer Station. The TNRD Heffley Creek Eco-Depot, 7381 Sullivan Valley Road, takes it; check TNRD for hours.
- Fines: a bylaw notice is $300 for outside burning during a ban, $200 for burning without a permit, $200 for breaking permit conditions and $100 for burning construction, commercial or industrial waste. You also pay the Municipality's costs if the fire department responds to unsafe burning.
- The bylaw text we read is an older consolidation, so confirm details with Fire Rescue.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Kamloops · Barriere · Enderby · Armstrong · Spallumcheen · Vernon
Backyard fire and burning rules in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Fire & Life Safety Bylaw No. 0007, 2010 (PDF), Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality (read 2026-11-08)
- Burn Permits, Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality (read 2026-11-08)
- Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 0011, 2010 (PDF), Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality (read 2026-11-08)
- Heffley Creek Eco-Depot, Thompson-Nicola Regional District (read 2026-11-08)
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.