{"title":"Tofino backyard fire and burning rules","question":"Can I have a backyard fire or burn yard waste in Tofino?","slug":"backyard-fire","place":{"path":"ca/bc/tofino","name":"Tofino","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 Tofino","url":"https://tofino.ca"},"short_answer":"In Tofino, campfires and BBQ cooking fires are allowed under the Outdoor Burning Bylaw, with limits, and no burning permit is set. Burning household or yard waste in the open is prohibited. No outdoor fires are allowed during a fire ban, so check current bans first.","aliases":["campfire tofino","burn yard waste tofino","fire ban tofino","beach fire tofino"],"cost":"No permit or fee for campfires. Fine for an illegal fire: bylaw notice $300; municipal ticket $300.","how_long":"not applicable","where":[{"type":"online","label":"Coastal Fire Centre fire bans and restrictions (Province of BC)","value":"https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/wildfire-status/prevention/fire-bans-and-restrictions/coastal-fire-centre-bans"},{"type":"phone","label":"Bylaw Services (office, ext. 706)","value":"250-725-3229"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Outdoor Burning Bylaw No. 1071 (PDF)","url":"https://tofino.civicweb.net/document/912/"}],"related":[{"slug":"yard-waste","title":"Tofino yard waste collection and drop-off","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tofino/yard-waste/"},{"slug":"fireworks","title":"Tofino fireworks rules","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tofino/fireworks/"},{"slug":"bylaw-fines","title":"Tofino bylaw fines and how tickets work","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tofino/bylaw-fines/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/ucluelet","name":"Ucluelet","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ucluelet/backyard-fire/"},{"place":"ca/bc/gold-river","name":"Gold River","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/gold-river/backyard-fire/"},{"place":"ca/bc/port-alberni","name":"Port Alberni","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-alberni/backyard-fire/"},{"place":"ca/bc/cumberland","name":"Cumberland","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cumberland/backyard-fire/"},{"place":"ca/bc/courtenay","name":"Courtenay","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/courtenay/backyard-fire/"},{"place":"ca/bc/comox","name":"Comox","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/comox/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":"Campfires and BBQ cooking fires are allowed under the bylaw, but a campfire may not be bigger than 0.6 m across, burn between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m., burn anything but wood, or be on private property except a campground or an owner-designated campfire area with the owner's written permission. It must be supervised by someone 16 or older, with water on hand and 3 m clear of anything combustible.","short":"Yes, up to 0.6 m, mainly in campgrounds","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://tofino.civicweb.net/document/912/","title":"Outdoor Burning Bylaw No. 1071, 2008 (consolidated) (PDF), District of Tofino","section":"s. 4, 6, 3.4","quotes":["d.) campfires.","e.) any campfire larger than 0.6 meters in diameter;","d.) any campfire between 11:00pm and 6:00am;","any campfire consuming garbage, refuse, noxious material, or any other material other than wood.","ensure that at all times the fire is supervised by a competent person of 16 years","at least 3 meters from any vegetation, beach material, buildings,"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"open_burning":{"label":"Burning yard waste","value":"Not allowed. Burning of residential waste, including household and yard materials, is strictly prohibited in the open air. Yard-waste, clearing, construction and trade-waste fires are banned unless Council approves them by resolution.","short":"No","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://tofino.civicweb.net/document/912/","title":"Outdoor Burning Bylaw No. 1071, 2008 (consolidated) (PDF), District of Tofino","section":"s. 3.2, s. 8","quotes":["Burning of residential waste, including both household and yard materials, is strictly prohibited in the open air.","yard waste fires; trade waste fires; other than those listed in section 7 are hereby banned and illegal, unless approval in form of a resolution of Council in open meeting has been given"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"permit":{"label":"Permit","value":"The bylaw sets no permit or fee for campfires. An incinerator may operate only with written approval from the building inspector. Other outdoor fires are illegal unless Council approves them by resolution.","short":"No permit or fee for campfires","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://tofino.civicweb.net/document/912/","title":"Outdoor Burning Bylaw No. 1071, 2008 (consolidated) (PDF), District of Tofino","section":"s. 5(a), s. 8","quotes":["operating with written approval by the building inspector;","unless approval in form of a resolution of Council in open meeting has been given and is immediately available for inspection."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"fire_bans":{"label":"Fire bans","value":"The Fire Chief or a Bylaw Enforcement Officer may publish a notice or post signs that no outdoor fires are allowed; having a fire then is an offence. The Fire Department page links to the Coastal Fire Centre list of current fire bans.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://tofino.civicweb.net/document/912/","title":"Outdoor Burning Bylaw No. 1071, 2008 (consolidated) (PDF), District of Tofino","section":"s. 3.1(d)","quotes":["at the discretion of the Fire Chief or a Bylaw Enforcement Officer, written notice has been published in a newspaper circulating in the District or signage has been posted"]},{"url":"https://tofino.ca/public-services/safety/fire-department/","title":"Fire Department, District of Tofino","section":"Fire Department page","quotes":["CHECK FOR CURRENT FIRE BANS"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"alternatives":{"label":"Instead of burning","value":"Yard waste goes in the green organics cart collected weekly by the ACRD (branches up to 24 inches long and 2 inches thick), or to the West Coast Landfill (organics $115 per tonne, $5 minimum; residential branches $10 per load).","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.acrd.bc.ca/organics","title":"Organics, Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District","section":"ACRD Organics page","quotes":["Yard waste is accepted too.","the maximum length for branches in the cart is 24 inches, or two feet, with a two-inch diameter"]},{"url":"https://www.acrd.bc.ca/west-coast-landfill","title":"West Coast Landfill, Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District","section":"West Coast Landfill fees","quotes":["Residential Branches | $10.00 per load"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"fine":{"label":"Fine","value":"Illegal fire (s. 3.1(c)): bylaw notice $300 ($240 within 14 days; $360 after 60 days); municipal ticket $300. Fire contrary to a ban: bylaw notice $300, municipal ticket $200. Campfire over 0.6 m: bylaw notice $200, municipal ticket $50. Municipal tickets are halved if paid within 7 business days.","short":"Notice $300 ($240 if paid in 14 days); ticket $300","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://tofino.civicweb.net/document/163658/","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1107 (consolidated) (PDF), District of Tofino","section":"Schedule A (Outdoor Burning Bylaw 1071)","quotes":["3.1 (c) $300 $240 $360","Fire contrary to ban 3.1 (d) $300 $240 $360","Campfire greater than 0.6 meters in 6(e) No $200 $160 $240 n/a"]},{"url":"https://tofino.civicweb.net/filepro/document/1426/Municipal%20Ticket%20Information%20System%20Bylaw%20No.%201088%20(Consolidated%20Version).pdf","title":"Municipal Ticket Information System Bylaw No. 1088 (consolidated) (PDF), District of Tofino","section":"Schedule 2","quotes":["Illegal fire 3.1 (c) $300.00","Fire contrary to ban 3.1 (c) $200.00","Campfire greater than 0.6 meters in diameter 6(e) $50.00","Fines as set out in all Schedules with the exception of Schedule 7 are reduced by 50% if the fine is paid within 7 business days of the date of issuance of the Municipal Ticketing Information."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"District of Tofino Outdoor Burning Bylaw No. 1071, 2008","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://tofino.civicweb.net/document/912/","title":"Outdoor Burning Bylaw No. 1071, 2008 (consolidated) (PDF), District of Tofino","section":"s. 1","quotes":["District of Tofino Outdoor Burning Bylaw No. 1071, 2008"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":7,"stated":7,"matched":7,"none":0,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nThe [Outdoor Burning Bylaw No. 1071](<https://tofino.civicweb.net/document/912/>) allows campfires and BBQ cooking fires in the District of Tofino, with limits. A campfire may not be bigger than 0.6 m across, burn between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m., or burn anything but wood. It may not be on private property except a campground or an owner-designated campfire area with the owner's written permission. It must be supervised by someone 16 or older, with water on hand and 3 m clear of anything combustible.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- Burning of residential waste, including household and yard materials, is strictly prohibited in the open air. Yard-waste, clearing, construction and trade-waste fires are banned unless Council approves them by resolution.\n- The bylaw sets no permit or fee for campfires. An incinerator needs written approval from the building inspector.\n- Campfires are also banned on school property, parks facilities, highways, parking lots, trails, and where signs prohibit them. Any outdoor fire is banned on Cox Bay. Beach fires are limited to certain beaches; see the District's beaches page.\n- The Fire Chief or a Bylaw Enforcement Officer may post a notice or signs that no outdoor fires are allowed. Check current bans with the Coastal Fire Centre, which the Fire Department page links to.\n- Yard waste goes in the green organics cart (see the yard waste answer) or to the West Coast Landfill.\n- Illegal fire: a bylaw notice is $300 ($240 within 14 days; $360 after 60 days). A municipal ticket is $300. For a fire contrary to a ban, the bylaw notice is $300 and the municipal ticket is $200. A campfire over 0.6 m is $200 by bylaw notice and $50 by municipal ticket. Municipal tickets are halved if paid within 7 business days.","sources":[{"url":"https://tofino.civicweb.net/document/912/","title":"Outdoor Burning Bylaw No. 1071, 2008 (consolidated) (PDF), District of Tofino","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://tofino.ca/public-services/safety/fire-department/","title":"Fire Department, District of Tofino","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://www.acrd.bc.ca/organics","title":"Organics, Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://www.acrd.bc.ca/west-coast-landfill","title":"West Coast Landfill, Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://tofino.civicweb.net/document/163658/","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1107 (consolidated) (PDF), District of Tofino","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://tofino.civicweb.net/filepro/document/1426/Municipal%20Ticket%20Information%20System%20Bylaw%20No.%201088%20(Consolidated%20Version).pdf","title":"Municipal Ticket Information System Bylaw No. 1088 (consolidated) (PDF), District of Tofino","accessed":"2026-11-08"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-08","review":{"status":"machine_checked","badge":"Checked against official text","label":"Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 7 of 7 facts was matched to the official text."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tofino/backyard-fire/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tofino/backyard-fire.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tofino/backyard-fire.json"}}