Tofino backyard fire and burning rules

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

Tofino, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-08

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.

Key facts

Backyard campfires	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.Outdoor Burning Bylaw No. 1071, 2008 (consolidated), s. 4, 6, 3.4 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 Official wording 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,
Burning yard waste	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.Outdoor Burning Bylaw No. 1071, 2008 (consolidated), s. 3.2, s. 8 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 Official wording 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
Permit	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.Outdoor Burning Bylaw No. 1071, 2008 (consolidated), s. 5(a), s. 8 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 Official wording 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.
Fire bans	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.Outdoor Burning Bylaw No. 1071, 2008 (consolidated), s. 3.1(d); Fire Department, Fire Department page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 Official wording 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 CHECK FOR CURRENT FIRE BANS
Instead of burning	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).Organics, Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District, ACRD Organics page; West Coast Landfill, Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District, West Coast Landfill fees · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 Official wording Yard waste is accepted too. the maximum length for branches in the cart is 24 inches, or two feet, with a two-inch diameter Residential Branches \| $10.00 per load
Fine	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.Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1107 (consolidated), Schedule A (Outdoor Burning Bylaw 1071); Municipal Ticket Information System Bylaw No. 1088 (consolidated), Schedule 2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 Official wording 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 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.
Bylaw	District of Tofino Outdoor Burning Bylaw No. 1071, 2008Outdoor Burning Bylaw No. 1071, 2008 (consolidated), s. 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 Official wording District of Tofino Outdoor Burning Bylaw No. 1071, 2008

How it works

The Outdoor Burning Bylaw No. 1071 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.

Good to know

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.
The bylaw sets no permit or fee for campfires. An incinerator needs written approval from the building inspector.
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.
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.
Yard waste goes in the green organics cart (see the yard waste answer) or to the West Coast Landfill.
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.