{"title":"Tumbler Ridge backyard fire and burning rules","question":"Can I have a backyard fire or burn yard waste in Tumbler Ridge?","slug":"backyard-fire","place":{"path":"ca/bc/tumbler-ridge","name":"Tumbler Ridge","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 Tumbler Ridge","url":"https://www.districtoftumblerridge.ca"},"short_answer":"In Tumbler Ridge, recreational campfires are allowed in a fire pit, fireplace or barbecue without a permit if you follow the Fire Protection Bylaw. Burning yard waste needs a written permit from the Fire Chief. A ticket is $100. Check for current fire bans first.","aliases":["backyard fire tumbler ridge","campfire tumbler ridge","burn permit tumbler ridge","open burning tumbler ridge","fire ban tumbler ridge"],"cost":"No fee for a recreational fire. No burning permit fee found in the Fees and Charges Bylaw. Ticket: $100.","how_long":"Not applicable.","where":[{"type":"in_person","label":"Fire Hall (open burning permit)","value":"325 Iles Way, Tumbler Ridge, BC","note":"Bylaw Enforcement is based at the Fire Hall"},{"type":"phone","label":"Bylaw Enforcement Officer","value":"250-242-3939","note":"Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m."}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Fire Protection Bylaw No. 680, 2019 (PDF), District of Tumbler Ridge","url":"https://tumblerridge.civicweb.net/document/66334/"},{"title":"Fire Protection Amendment Bylaw No. 751, 2025 (PDF), District of Tumbler Ridge","url":"https://tumblerridge.civicweb.net/document/66331/"},{"title":"Wildfire Danger Rating and Current Prohibitions, District of Tumbler Ridge","url":"https://www.districtoftumblerridge.ca/p/wildfire-danger-rating-current-prohibitions"},{"title":"Garbage and Recycling, District of Tumbler Ridge","url":"https://www.districtoftumblerridge.ca/p/-garbage-pick-up-recycling"},{"title":"Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 560, 2011, consolidated (PDF), District of Tumbler Ridge","url":"https://tumblerridge.civicweb.net/document/28324/"}],"related":[{"slug":"yard-waste","title":"Tumbler Ridge yard waste collection and drop-off","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tumbler-ridge/yard-waste/"},{"slug":"fireworks","title":"Tumbler Ridge fireworks rules","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tumbler-ridge/fireworks/"},{"slug":"bylaw-fines","title":"Tumbler Ridge bylaw fines and how tickets work","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tumbler-ridge/bylaw-fines/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/chetwynd","name":"Chetwynd","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/chetwynd/backyard-fire/"},{"place":"ca/bc/dawson-creek","name":"Dawson Creek","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dawson-creek/backyard-fire/"},{"place":"ca/bc/pouce-coupe","name":"Pouce Coupe","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/pouce-coupe/backyard-fire/"},{"place":"ca/bc/hudsons-hope","name":"Hudson's Hope","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/hudsons-hope/backyard-fire/"},{"place":"ca/bc/mackenzie","name":"Mackenzie","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mackenzie/backyard-fire/"},{"place":"ca/bc/fort-st-john","name":"Fort St. John","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fort-st-john/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":"Yes. Recreational fires are allowed in a permanent outdoor fireplace, barbecue or fire pit (or a portable manufactured fire pit meeting the same rules): on private property (or public property where authorized), no larger than 1 m across, 3 m from buildings and combustibles and clear of overhanging trees, dug down to mineral soil, ringed by a non-combustible barrier, always attended by an adult, with a shovel, hose or 8 litres of water nearby, material piled no higher than 60 cm.","short":"Yes, up to 1 m across","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://tumblerridge.civicweb.net/document/66334/","title":"Fire Protection Bylaw No. 680, 2019 (PDF), District of Tumbler Ridge","section":"s. 83","quotes":["Recreational Fires are permitted in a permanent outdoor fire place, barbecue or fire","Not be larger than 1 metre in diameter;","Be three (3) metres from combustible materials and, or Buildings","Be continually attended by an adult until completely extinguished;","Not have material piled in excess of 60 cm in height."]},{"url":"https://www.districtoftumblerridge.ca/p/wildfire-danger-rating-current-prohibitions","title":"Wildfire Danger Rating and Current Prohibitions, District of Tumbler Ridge","section":"Current Prohibitions","quotes":["Backyard campfires are are permitted within the community so long as they comply with the"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"open_burning":{"label":"Burning yard waste","value":"Open burning (yard and garden waste, land clearing debris) is not allowed except under a written permit from the Fire Chief. Garbage or noxious material may never be burned. The 2025 amendment limits open burning operations to days with a permissible ventilation index rating.","short":"Only with a written Fire Chief permit","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://tumblerridge.civicweb.net/document/66334/","title":"Fire Protection Bylaw No. 680, 2019 (PDF), District of Tumbler Ridge","section":"s. 77, s. 87","quotes":["No Person shall start or maintain, or permit or cause to be started or maintained any","Open Burning in the District except under special circumstances granted by permit in","No Person shall cause or allow any Garbage or Noxious Material to be burned by"]},{"url":"https://tumblerridge.civicweb.net/document/66331/","title":"Fire Protection Amendment Bylaw No. 751, 2025 (PDF), District of Tumbler Ridge","section":"Amendment item 26","quotes":["Clause 80 (a) is added to restrict open burning operations to days that have","permissible ventilation index rating."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"permit":{"label":"Permit","value":"Open burning needs a written permit from the Fire Chief, applied for at the Fire Hall. No permit is needed for a recreational fire in an approved area and receptacle.","short":"Yes, written permit; none for recreational fires","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://tumblerridge.civicweb.net/document/66334/","title":"Fire Protection Bylaw No. 680, 2019 (PDF), District of Tumbler Ridge","section":"ss. 77, 81, 88","quotes":["Applications for permits under section 77 shall be made at the Fire Hall.","A Recreational Fire in an approved area and receptacle used for heating or"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"fire_bans":{"label":"Fire bans","value":"The Fire Chief may publish or broadcast a notice designating areas unsafe for open-air fires; while it is in effect no fire, including a recreational fire, may be started. The District's Wildfire Danger Rating & Current Prohibitions page and the BC Wildfire Situation page show current status.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://tumblerridge.civicweb.net/document/66334/","title":"Fire Protection Bylaw No. 680, 2019 (PDF), District of Tumbler Ridge","section":"s. 84","quotes":["The Fire Chief may, by notice published or broadcast or both, designate areas that he","considers unsafe for open air fires","no Person shall, within any area so designated, start or maintain, or permit or cause to"]},{"url":"https://www.districtoftumblerridge.ca/p/wildfire-danger-rating-current-prohibitions","title":"Wildfire Danger Rating and Current Prohibitions, District of Tumbler Ridge","section":"Wildfire Danger Rating & Current Prohibitions","quotes":["More Information can be found on the BC Wildfire Situation Page."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"alternatives":{"label":"Instead of burning","value":"Yard trimmings must be taken to the Transfer Station (103 Ridge Road) unless composted on the property; they cannot go in the garbage cart.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://tumblerridge.civicweb.net/document/3529/","title":"https://tumblerridge.civicweb.net/document/3529/","section":"s. 5.2","quotes":["Every Owner or Occupant of a Property shall collect all Yard Trimmings","generated on that Property and dispose of those Yard Trimmings at the Transfer Station,","unless such Yard Trimmings are composted on that Property."]},{"url":"https://www.districtoftumblerridge.ca/p/-garbage-pick-up-recycling","title":"Garbage and Recycling, District of Tumbler Ridge","section":"Waste Transfer Station","quotes":["A waste transfer station located at 103 Ridge Road in Tumbler Ridge"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"fine":{"label":"Fine","value":"Municipal ticket: $100 for open burning without a permit or against permit conditions, burning when prohibited, burning garbage or noxious material, and each recreational fire rule breach (barrier, 3 m clearance, unattended, no extinguishing means, flames over 60 cm).","short":"Ticket $100","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://tumblerridge.civicweb.net/document/28324/","title":"Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 560, 2011, consolidated (PDF), District of Tumbler Ridge","section":"Schedule 5","quotes":["Open burning without a permit","Burning when prohibited","Burning garbage or noxious material","Recreational fire in excess of 60 cm flame height"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Fire Protection Bylaw No. 680, 2019 (amended by Bylaw No. 751, 2025).","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://tumblerridge.civicweb.net/document/66331/","title":"Fire Protection Amendment Bylaw No. 751, 2025 (PDF), District of Tumbler Ridge","section":"Title","quotes":["BYLAW NO. 751, 2025","Bylaw No. 680, 2019"]}],"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 District of Tumbler Ridge's [Fire Protection Bylaw No. 680](<https://tumblerridge.civicweb.net/document/66334/>) (amended by [Bylaw No. 751, 2025](<https://tumblerridge.civicweb.net/document/66331/>)) allows a recreational fire without a permit in an approved area and receptacle. Open burning needs a written permit.\n\n## Recreational fire rules\n\n- Use a permanent outdoor fireplace, barbecue or fire pit, or a portable manufactured fire pit, on private property (or public property where authorized).\n- No larger than 1 m across, 3 m from buildings and combustibles, and clear of overhanging trees.\n- Dug down to mineral soil and ringed by a non-combustible barrier.\n- Always attended by an adult, with a shovel, hose or 8 litres of water nearby.\n- Material piled no higher than 60 cm.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- **Open burning** (yard waste, land clearing) is not allowed without a written permit from the Fire Chief, applied for at the Fire Hall. Garbage or noxious material may never be burned. The 2025 amendment limits open burning to days with a permissible ventilation index rating.\n- **Fire bans:** the Fire Chief may designate areas unsafe for open-air fires. While a notice is in effect, no fire, including a recreational fire, may be started. Check the District's Wildfire Danger Rating and Current Prohibitions page and the BC Wildfire Situation page.\n- Yard trimmings must go to the Transfer Station (103 Ridge Road) unless composted at home.\n- A municipal ticket is $100 for burning without a permit, burning when prohibited, burning garbage, or breaking a recreational fire rule ([Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 560](<https://tumblerridge.civicweb.net/document/28324/>)).","sources":[{"url":"https://tumblerridge.civicweb.net/document/66334/","title":"Fire Protection Bylaw No. 680, 2019 (PDF), District of Tumbler Ridge","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://tumblerridge.civicweb.net/document/66331/","title":"Fire Protection Amendment Bylaw No. 751, 2025 (PDF), District of Tumbler Ridge","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://www.districtoftumblerridge.ca/p/wildfire-danger-rating-current-prohibitions","title":"Wildfire Danger Rating and Current Prohibitions, District of Tumbler Ridge","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://www.districtoftumblerridge.ca/p/-garbage-pick-up-recycling","title":"Garbage and Recycling, District of Tumbler Ridge","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://tumblerridge.civicweb.net/document/28324/","title":"Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 560, 2011, consolidated (PDF), District of Tumbler Ridge","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://tumblerridge.civicweb.net/document/3529/","title":"https://tumblerridge.civicweb.net/document/3529/","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/tumbler-ridge/backyard-fire/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tumbler-ridge/backyard-fire.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tumbler-ridge/backyard-fire.json"}}