--- title: Victoria backyard fire and burning rules question: "Can I have a backyard fire or burn yard waste?" place: Victoria, British Columbia, Canada place_path: ca/bc/victoria category: Bylaws, noise and complaints owner: municipal owner_body: City of Victoria sources_read: 2026-11-05 review: machine_checked canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/victoria/backyard-fire/" json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/victoria/backyard-fire.json" --- # Victoria backyard fire and burning rules **Question:** Can I have a backyard fire or burn yard waste? **Short answer:** Not without a permit. In the City of Victoria, any open-air fire, including in a chiminea or outdoor fireplace, needs a permit from the Fire Chief, and permits are only for certain purposes. Burning yard waste also needs one. Cooking barbecues and approved gas appliances are not covered. **Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Victoria, https://www.victoria.ca) **Cost:** No permit fee is stated in the bylaw. Fine for prohibited open-air burning: $250 on a bylaw notice and on a municipal ticket. **Where:** - Phone: Fire or smoke in a park or on a beach, 9-1-1 ## Key facts - **Backyard campfires:** Not without a permit. Anyone burning a fire in the open air, including in a chiminea, outdoor fireplace or other portable outdoor burner, needs a permit. Not covered: charcoal, natural gas or propane barbecues and grills used only for cooking, and CSA- or ULC-approved gas or liquid-fuel outdoor appliances used as the maker directs. - Source: [Fire Prevention and Regulation Bylaw 14-100 (sections 36 to 38 and the offence schedule), ss. 37(1)-(2)](https://www.victoria.ca/media/file/fire-prevention-and-regulation-bylaw-14-100) - Official wording: "No person shall light, ignite, start or burn any fire in the open air or in any portable incinerator, chiminea, outdoor fireplace or other portable outdoor burner without first obtaining a Permit." … "charcoal, natural gas or propane gas fires contained within barbecues, grills or other outdoor appliances for the sole purpose of cooking food; or" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 - **Burning yard waste:** Burning of any kind in the open air (including yard waste or brush piles) needs a permit, and permits are limited to certain purposes (see permit). Burning in a fireplace, stove or incinerator is limited to seasoned firewood or similar material without paint, treated wood or adhesives. - Source: [Fire Prevention and Regulation Bylaw 14-100 (sections 36 to 38 and the offence schedule), ss. 2, 36, 37(1)](https://www.victoria.ca/media/file/fire-prevention-and-regulation-bylaw-14-100) - Official wording: "any burning of any kind, of any material, for any purpose that takes place outside" … "No person shall burn in a fireplace, stove or incinerator any materials other than seasoned firewood" … "No person shall light, ignite, start or burn any fire in the open air" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 - **Permit:** Yes. Apply to the Fire Chief on the Fire Chief's form. A permit may be issued only for a religious, cultural or special event, member training, or ecological or conservation purposes; the Fire Chief may refuse or add conditions. The holder must notify the Fire Department before lighting and after the fire is out and keep a competent adult watching until it is out. No fee is stated. - Source: [Fire Prevention and Regulation Bylaw 14-100 (sections 36 to 38 and the offence schedule), s. 38](https://www.victoria.ca/media/file/fire-prevention-and-regulation-bylaw-14-100) - Official wording: "An application for a Permit shall be made to the Fire Chief in a form specified by the Fire Chief." … "the observance or celebration of a religious, cultural or special event;" … "ecological or conservation purposes." … "shall have a competent person at all times in charge of the fire." - Source: [Fire Prevention and Regulation Amendment Bylaw 21-010, Amendment 21-010, s. 6(e)](https://www.victoria.ca/media/file/fire-prevention-and-regulation-bylaw-amendment-bylaw-21-010) - Official wording: "notify the Fire Department before the initiation and after the" … "at all times ensure that a competent adult is keeping watch on the fire until the fire is completely extinguished" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 - **Fire bans:** None set. Victoria's Fire Prevention and Regulation Bylaw has no section on fire bans. - **Instead of burning:** Put yard waste in the green bin (collected every two weeks), or take leaves and garden waste to the Public Works Yard, 417 Garbally Road, on Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. The City also runs seasonal leaf collection. - Source: [Curbside Collection, Organics - Green Bin](https://www.victoria.ca/home-property/waste-collection/curbside-collection) - Official wording: "You can put food scraps and yard waste in your green bin." - Source: [Yard and Garden Waste, Leaf Drop Off](https://www.victoria.ca/home-property/waste-collection/yard-garden-waste) - Official wording: "Leaves and garden waste can be dropped off year-round at the Public Works Yard, 417 Garbally Road on Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m." - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 - **Fine:** Bylaw notice (Bylaw 16-017): $250 for prohibited open-air burning (s. 37(1)) or burning in a fireplace or stove (s. 36), $187.50 within 14 days; $300 for failing to notify or supervise a permitted fire (s. 38(3)(b)), $225. Municipal ticket (Bylaw 10-071): $250 ($200 within 30 days); $300 ($250). - Source: [Ticket Bylaw 10-071 (consolidated June 18, 2026), Schedule Q](https://www.victoria.ca/media/635) - Official wording: "Prohibited Open Air 37(1) $250.00 $200.00" … "Prohibited burning 36 $250.00 $200.00" … "Fail to notify or 38(3)(b) $300.00 $250.00" - Source: [Bylaw Notice Adjudication Bylaw 16-017, Schedule B, Schedule O](https://www.victoria.ca/media/2923) - Official wording: "37(1) Prohibited Open Air burning $250.00 $62.50 $62.50" … "36 Prohibited burning $250.00 $62.50 $62.50" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 - **Bylaw:** Fire Prevention and Regulation Bylaw No. 14-100, as amended by Amendment Bylaw No. 21-010 - Source: [Fire Prevention and Regulation Bylaw 14-100 (sections 36 to 38 and the offence schedule), Title](https://www.victoria.ca/media/file/fire-prevention-and-regulation-bylaw-14-100) - Official wording: "FIRE PREVENTION AND REGULATION BYLAW" … "NO. 14-100" - Source: [Fire Prevention and Regulation Amendment Bylaw 21-010, Title](https://www.victoria.ca/media/file/fire-prevention-and-regulation-bylaw-amendment-bylaw-21-010) - Official wording: "FIRE PREVENTION AND REGULATION BYLAW, AMENDMENT BYLAW (NO. 1)" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 ## How it works Under the [Fire Prevention and Regulation Bylaw 14-100](), as amended by [Bylaw 21-010](), burning of any kind in the open air needs a permit. That includes a fire in a chiminea, outdoor fireplace or other portable outdoor burner, and burning yard waste or brush piles. Not covered: charcoal, natural gas or propane barbecues and grills used only for cooking, and CSA- or ULC-approved gas or liquid-fuel outdoor appliances used as the maker directs. ## Steps 1. Apply to the Fire Chief on the Fire Chief's form. A permit may be issued only for a religious, cultural or special event, member training, or ecological or conservation purposes. The Fire Chief may refuse or add conditions. No fee is stated. 2. If you hold a permit, notify the Fire Department before you light the fire and after it is out. 3. Keep a competent adult watching the fire until it is completely out. ## Good to know - Burning in a fireplace, stove or incinerator is limited to seasoned firewood or similar material without paint, treated wood or adhesives. - In City parks a fire is allowed only with the Director's prior written consent and in a lawfully authorized fire pit. - The bylaw sets no size rules for backyard fire pits and no section on fire bans. Ask the Fire Department about current restrictions. - For yard waste, use the green bin (collected every two weeks), or take leaves and garden waste to the Public Works Yard, 417 Garbally Road, on Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. The City also runs seasonal leaf collection. - Fines: prohibited open-air burning, or burning in a fireplace or stove, is $250. A bylaw notice (Bylaw 16-017) is $187.50 if paid within 14 days; a municipal ticket (Bylaw 10-071) is $200 if paid within 30 days. - Failing to notify or supervise a permitted fire is $300 ($225 within 14 days on a notice; $250 within 30 days on a ticket). ## Official forms and pages - [Fire Prevention and Regulation Bylaw 14-100 (PDF)](https://www.victoria.ca/media/file/fire-prevention-and-regulation-bylaw-14-100) - [Fire Prevention and Regulation Amendment Bylaw 21-010 (PDF)](https://www.victoria.ca/media/file/fire-prevention-and-regulation-bylaw-amendment-bylaw-21-010) - [Parks Regulation Bylaw 07-059 (PDF)](https://www.victoria.ca/media/file/parks-regulation-bylaw-consolidated-07-059) ## Related questions - [Victoria yard waste collection and drop-off](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/victoria/yard-waste.md) - [Victoria fireworks rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/victoria/fireworks.md) - [Victoria bylaw fines and how tickets work](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/victoria/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) - [Oak Bay](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/oak-bay/backyard-fire.md) - [Esquimalt](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/backyard-fire.md) - [View Royal](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/view-royal/backyard-fire.md) - [Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/saanich/backyard-fire.md) - [Colwood](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/colwood/backyard-fire.md) - [Langford](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langford/backyard-fire.md) ## Sources - [Fire Prevention and Regulation Bylaw 14-100 (sections 36 to 38 and the offence schedule) (PDF)](https://www.victoria.ca/media/file/fire-prevention-and-regulation-bylaw-14-100) (read 2026-11-05) - [Fire Prevention and Regulation Amendment Bylaw 21-010 (PDF)](https://www.victoria.ca/media/file/fire-prevention-and-regulation-bylaw-amendment-bylaw-21-010) (read 2026-11-05) - [Parks Regulation Bylaw 07-059, section 11 (PDF)](https://www.victoria.ca/media/file/parks-regulation-bylaw-consolidated-07-059) (read 2026-11-05) - [Ticket Bylaw 10-071 (consolidated June 18, 2026) (PDF)](https://www.victoria.ca/media/635) (read 2026-11-05) - [Bylaw Notice Adjudication Bylaw 16-017, Schedule B (PDF)](https://www.victoria.ca/media/2923) (read 2026-11-05) - [Yard and Garden Waste, City of Victoria](https://www.victoria.ca/home-property/waste-collection/yard-garden-waste) (read 2026-11-05) - [Curbside Collection, City of Victoria](https://www.victoria.ca/home-property/waste-collection/curbside-collection) (read 2026-11-05) _Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 6 of 7 facts was matched to the official text; 1 is recorded as not set. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with City of Victoria. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/victoria/backyard-fire/_