---
title: Vanderhoof backyard fire and burning rules
question: "Can I have a backyard fire or burn yard waste in Vanderhoof?"
place: Vanderhoof, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/vanderhoof
category: Bylaws, noise and complaints
owner: municipal
owner_body: District of Vanderhoof
sources_read: 2026-11-08
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vanderhoof/backyard-fire/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vanderhoof/backyard-fire.json"
---

# Vanderhoof backyard fire and burning rules

**Question:** Can I have a backyard fire or burn yard waste in Vanderhoof?

**Short answer:** In Vanderhoof, a campfire no larger than 30 inches across and small cooking fires on barbecues need no permit. Other open burning, such as garden waste, needs a permit from the Fire Chief, Deputy Fire Chief or Public Works Superintendent. Fire bans are set by the BC Wildfire Service.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (District of Vanderhoof, https://vanderhoof.ca)  
**Cost:** No burning permit fee is stated in the Burning Control Regulations Bylaw or the District's fees bylaw.  
**How long:** Not stated.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Municipal Office (ask where to get a burning permit), 250-567-4711
- Online: BC Wildfire Service (fire bans in effect), https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/wildfire-status

## Key facts

- **Backyard campfires:** Yes. No permit is needed for a campfire (a small open-air burn no larger than 30 inches in diameter) or for small, confined cooking fires on barbecues and grills. All burning is subject to the venting index, and offensive odours and excessive smoke are not permitted.
  - Source: [Burning Control Regulations Bylaw No. 988, 2005, s. 1 Definitions; s. 2.01, 2.03, 2.09](https://vanderhoof.civicweb.net/document/73197/)
  - Official wording: "means a small, open air burn no larger than 30” in diameter" … "A permit is not required for a campfire and for small, confined fires used for cooking food on barbecues and grills." … "Offensive odors and excessive smoke emitting from an open burn are not permitted."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Burning yard waste:** Only with a permit. An authorized person may permit burning of garden and lawn waste and household paper waste, debris and construction waste, or clean untreated lumber. Never burn rubbish, paint, tires, oil, tar, asphalt shingles, plastic or similar. A competent person must stay in charge with a charged hose and nozzle.
  - Source: [Burning Control Regulations Bylaw No. 988, 2005, s. 2.02, 2.06, 2.07, 2.08](https://vanderhoof.civicweb.net/document/73197/)
  - Official wording: "no person shall carry on or permit to be carried on open air burning without first obtaining a permit from an authorized person." … "for the burning of flammable garden and lawn waste and household waste" … "must not burn any rubbish, paint, tires, oil, tar or petroleum product, asphalt shingles, batter boxes, plastic material, biomedical waste or any similar materials." … "a competent person is at all times in charge of the fire"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Permit:** A permit is required for open-air burning other than a campfire or barbecue, from an authorized person (the Fire Chief, Deputy Fire Chief or Public Works Superintendent).
  - Source: [Burning Control Regulations Bylaw No. 988, 2005, s. 1 'Authorized Person'; s. 2.02](https://vanderhoof.civicweb.net/document/73197/)
  - Official wording: "means the Fire Chief, the Deputy Fire Chief and the Public Works Superintendent;" … "without first obtaining a permit from an authorized person."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Fire bans:** Fire bans are enacted and managed provincially by the BC Wildfire Service. The District refers residents to the BC Wildfire Service website for bans in effect.
  - Source: [Fire Department, Fire Bans](https://vanderhoof.ca/municipal-hall/fire-department/)
  - Official wording: "Fire bans are enacted and managed provincially by the BC Wildfire Service." … "To view current fire bans in effect, wildfire news, or resources on prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery, please visit the BC Wildfire Service website."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Instead of burning:** Not confirmed. No official page found says where yard waste can go instead of burning.
- **Fine:** No amount is set. A person who breaks the bylaw commits an offence and is punishable on conviction under the Offence Act. The Fire Chief may also bill the cost of fire department response.
  - Source: [Burning Control Regulations Bylaw No. 988, 2005, s. 7, 9.03](https://vanderhoof.civicweb.net/document/73197/)
  - Official wording: "Any person who commits an offence is liable and punishable, upon conviction, under" … "The owner or occupier shall pay the costs of the services provided by the Fire Department within thirty (30)"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** Burning Control Regulations Bylaw No. 988, 2005
  - Source: [Burning Control Regulations Bylaw No. 988, 2005, s. 10.01](https://vanderhoof.civicweb.net/document/73197/)
  - Official wording: "This bylaw may be cited as the District of Vanderhoof Burning Control Regulations Bylaw No. 988, 2005."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

Under the [Burning Control Regulations Bylaw No. 988, 2005](https://vanderhoof.civicweb.net/document/73197/), no permit is needed in Vanderhoof for a campfire (a small open-air burn no larger than 30 inches in diameter) or for small, confined cooking fires on barbecues and grills. All burning is subject to the venting index, and offensive odours and excessive smoke are not permitted.

## Steps

1. For other open burning, get a permit from an authorized person (the Fire Chief, Deputy Fire Chief or Public Works Superintendent). Call the Municipal Office at 250-567-4711.
2. An authorized person may permit burning of garden and lawn waste, household paper waste, debris and construction waste, or clean untreated lumber.
3. Stay with the fire. A competent person must be in charge, with a charged hose and nozzle.

## Good to know

- Never burn rubbish, paint, tires, oil, tar, asphalt shingles, plastic or similar.
- Burning land-clearing debris has extra steps in section 4 of the bylaw (Fire Chief inspection, no burning when the forest fire rating is high to extreme, and a water delivery system from April 1 to October 31).
- Fire bans are enacted and managed provincially. Check the BC Wildfire Service website for bans in effect.
- No fine amount is set. A person who breaks the bylaw is punishable on conviction under the Offence Act, and the Fire Chief may bill the cost of fire department response.
- No official page found says where yard waste can go instead of burning.

## Official forms and pages

- [Burning Control Regulations Bylaw No. 988, 2005 (PDF)](https://vanderhoof.civicweb.net/document/73197/)

## Related questions

- [Vanderhoof fireworks rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vanderhoof/fireworks.md)
- [Vanderhoof bylaw fines and how tickets work](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vanderhoof/bylaw-fines.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Backyard fire and burning rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/backyard-fire.md)
- [Fort St James](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fort-st-james/backyard-fire.md)
- [Prince George](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/prince-george/backyard-fire.md)
- [Burns Lake](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/burns-lake/backyard-fire.md)
- [Mackenzie](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mackenzie/backyard-fire.md)
- [Quesnel](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/quesnel/backyard-fire.md)
- [Houston](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/houston/backyard-fire.md)

## Sources

- [Burning Control Regulations Bylaw No. 988, 2005 (PDF), District of Vanderhoof](https://vanderhoof.civicweb.net/document/73197/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Fire Department, District of Vanderhoof](https://vanderhoof.ca/municipal-hall/fire-department/) (read 2026-11-08)

_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. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with District of Vanderhoof. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vanderhoof/backyard-fire/_