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Wells backyard fire and burning rules

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

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

Short answer

The District of Wells Fire Services Bylaw has no campfire, fire pit or burning permit rule. It lets the Fire Chief suspend all outdoor burning for public safety or air quality, and while it is suspended no one may do open burning in the District. Ask the Fire Chief before burning.

Key facts

Backyard campfiresNone set. The District of Wells Fire Services Bylaw has no standing rule on campfires, fire pits or yard waste burning, and names no burning permit.Read: Fire Services Bylaw No. 142, 2015
Burning yard wasteNone set. The District of Wells Fire Services Bylaw has no standing rule on campfires, fire pits or yard waste burning, and names no burning permit.Read: Fire Services Bylaw No. 142, 2015
PermitNone set. The District of Wells Fire Services Bylaw has no standing rule on campfires, fire pits or yard waste burning, and names no burning permit.Read: Fire Services Bylaw No. 142, 2015
Fire bansThe Fire Chief may suspend any or all outdoor burning for public nuisance or public safety, including air quality and risk of fire spread. While suspended, no one may carry on open burning within the District.Fire Services Bylaw No. 142, 2015, s. 17.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
The Fire Chief may, at his or her discretion, suspend any or all outdoor burning
no person shall carry on open burning within the District
Instead of burningTrees, branches and dimensional lumber can go to the wood waste yard at the Wells Transfer Station, 10720 Barkerville Hwy.Garbage and Recycling, Garbage page, Garbage · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
The Wells Transfer Station is located at 10720 Barkerville Hwy
The wood waste yard is for wood waste only, including trees, branches, and dimensional lumber
FineNo ticket amount is stated. A person who breaks the Fire Services Bylaw commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to the penalties in the Offence Act; each day is a separate offence.Fire Services Bylaw No. 142, 2015, s. 32.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
liable on summary conviction to the penalties provided for in the Offence Act
constitutes a separate offence
BylawDistrict of Wells Fire Services Bylaw No. 142, 2015Fire Services Bylaw No. 142, 2015, s. 1.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
This Bylaw may be cited as “Fire Services Bylaw No. 142, 2015”

How it works

The District of Wells Fire Services Bylaw No. 142, 2015 has one outdoor burning section. It lets the Fire Chief suspend any or all outdoor burning for public nuisance or public safety, including air quality and risk of fire spread. While burning is suspended, no one may carry on open burning in the District. The bylaw gives no standing rule on campfires, fire pits, yard waste or brush piles, and it names no burning permit.

Steps

  1. Before you light anything, ask the Fire Chief at firechief@wells.ca or 604-805-5366 whether burning is allowed and whether a permit is needed.
  2. Check for provincial wildfire bans through BC Wildfire Service.
  3. Instead of burning, take trees, branches and dimensional lumber to the wood waste yard at the Wells Transfer Station, 10720 Barkerville Hwy.

Good to know

  • No page on wells.ca says where to check for a current suspension.
  • The bylaw states no ticket amount. A person who breaks it is liable on summary conviction to the penalties in the Offence Act, and each day is a separate offence.
  • Transfer station hours are not stated on the District page.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Quesnel · Williams Lake · McBride · Prince George · 100 Mile House · Valemount

Backyard fire and burning rules in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

  1. Fire Services Bylaw No. 142, 2015 (PDF), District of Wells (read 2026-11-08)
  2. Garbage and Recycling, District of Wells (read 2026-11-08)
  3. Fire Protection, District of Wells (read 2026-11-08)

Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 4 of 7 facts was matched to the official text; 3 are recorded as not set. How answers are checked.