West Kelowna backyard fire and burning rules

Can I have a backyard fire or burn yard waste?

West Kelowna, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-05

Short answer

In West Kelowna a small campfire for warmth or cooking is allowed unless a campfire ban is in effect, and you may not burn yard waste or garbage in it. Open burning of piles needs a permit from the Fire Chief (West Kelowna Fire Rescue, 778-797-3200), and only in the burning season.

Key facts

Backyard campfires	Yes, unless a campfire ban is in effect. The bylaw allows a fire no bigger than 0.5 m across, for warmth or cooking only; the City's page says a 45 cm pit with 1 m of bare soil around it and 3.6 m clearance. Seasoned wood, a hand tool or 8 litres of water close, someone watching. No yard waste or garbage.Sources differ: The City page gives a 45 cm fire pit diameter and 1 m of mineral soil around it with 3.6 m additional clearance; the bylaw definition is one half metre. Bylaw 0114 s. 3 controls. Standing notice, not a rule: the City page says that since Sept. 9, 2026, small campfires and open burning are again permitted until further notice. Westbank First Nation law 2005-11 applies on WFN land. Parks bylaw: no open fire in a City park (s. 3.11 a).Fire Rescue Establishment and Operations Bylaw No. 0114 (consolidated), ss. 3, 29.17; Fire and Rescue, Campfire Restrictions · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Campfire - means a fire no greater than one half (1/2) meter in diameter used solely for warmth or cooking. The use of a campfire shall be in accordance with the fire department’s Are NOT allowed when a campfire ban is in effect. Require a nearby source of extinguishment, including a minimum of one hand tool or eight litres of water. Must use seasoned firewood Must not be used to burn yard waste, garbage and construction materials. Fire pit diametre = 45 centimetres (1.5 feet max) Circumference around fire pit = one metre (three feet of mineral soil) Additional clearance circumference = 3.6 metres (12 feet)
Burning yard waste	Only with a permit from the Fire Chief. Permits are for lots over 1 hectare, or smaller lots where the Fire Chief decides burning serves public safety better. Burning season is October 1 to April 30. Must be 50 m from buildings, forest and property lines; burn only material from the parcel, between 7:00 a.m. and sunset, when the venting index is 55 or higher. No burn barrels or backyard incinerators.Fire Rescue Establishment and Operations Bylaw No. 0114 (consolidated), ss. 29.2, 29.3, 29.5a, 29.6, 29.8, 29.11, 29.16, 29.20 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording no person shall start or burn a fire of any kind in the outdoors, other than a campfire, without first having obtained The Fire Chief may issue a permit for open burning on lots having an area greater than one hectare must maintain a minimum separation of fifty meters between the location of the open burn fire and all material to be burned originates from the parcel of land on which it is to be between 7:00 a.m. and sunset of the venting index as provided daily is fifty-five (55) or greater when the fire is started. The Fire Chief may issue permits for burning with the time periods from October No person shall burn in or allow a fire to continue to burn in a domestic outdoor or
Permit	Yes, for open burning (not for a small campfire). Call West Kelowna Fire Rescue at 778-797-3200, 8 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Monday to Friday, excluding holidays. Before each burn, call the Outdoor Burning Hotline 1-855-262-2876 to confirm burning is allowed that day.Fire and Rescue, Open burning permits; Outdoor burning, Regional District of Central Okanagan, Permits · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording To obtain a burning permit, call: 778-797-3200, 8 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday, excluding holidays. call the toll-free Outdoor Burning Hotline at 1-855-262-2876 (BURN) to confirm that burning is permitted on that day. Burning permits are issued by local fire departments. City of West Kelowna and Westbank First Nation residents - West Kelowna Fire/Rescue
Fire bans	Campfires are not allowed during a campfire ban, and the Fire Chief can suspend campfires or change or cancel burning permits when conditions are hazardous. Check the daily outdoor burning indicator (updated about 8 a.m.) at rdco.com/outdoorburning or call 1-855-262-2876; fire danger ratings are on BC Wildfire.Fire Rescue Establishment and Operations Bylaw No. 0114 (consolidated), ss. 29.17, 29.19; Fire and Rescue, Campfire Restrictions; Outdoor burning, Regional District of Central Okanagan, Check current burning conditions · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording This authorization for the use of campfires may be suspended by The Fire Chief may suspend, cancel, restrict or change the conditions of any Are NOT allowed when a campfire ban is in effect. each morning an online outdoor burning indicator is updated at rdco.com/outdoorburning. Current conditions are updated daily at approximately 8 a.m.
Instead of burning	Put yard waste in the green-lidded yard waste cart (collected every other week), or take it to the Asquith Road Transfer Station, 2640 Asquith Road (fees apply: $1 per bag, $5 per vehicle or trailer load up to 4' x 8' x 2').Yard waste, Regional District of Central Okanagan, Yard waste page; Asquith Road Transfer Station, Regional District of Central Okanagan, Rates · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording The RDCO provides curbside cart collection for yard waste from single family dwellings in Haul extra yard waste to the Glenmore Landfill or the Asquith Road Transfer Station. Fees apply. $1.00 per bag $5 per vehicle/trailer load, up to 4’ x 8’ x 2’
Fine	Burning without a permit $250. Prohibited campfire burning $250. Burning prohibited materials $250 (failing to ensure only permitted materials are burned $500). Other burn-rule breaches $250. Making a fire in a City park $500. Bylaw notice and municipal ticket amounts are the same.Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 0093 (consolidated), Bylaw 0093, Schedule 7; Municipal Ticket Information Utilization Bylaw No. 0095 (consolidated), Bylaw 0095, Schedule 7; Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 0093 (consolidated), Bylaw 0093, Schedule 12 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording 29.2 Fail to Obtain a Burning Permit $250.00 29.17 Prohibited Campfire Burning $250.00 29.7 Fail to Ensure Only Permitted Materials are Burned $500.00 29.15 Burn Prohibited Materials $250.00 29.2 Fail to Obtain a Burning Permit $250.00 29.17 Prohibited Campfire Burning $250.00 Make fire in park or public space 3.11 a) $ 500.00
Bylaw	City of West Kelowna Fire Rescue Establishment and Operations Bylaw 2010 No. 0114 (s. 29).Fire Rescue Establishment and Operations Bylaw No. 0114 (consolidated), s. 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording City of West Kelowna Fire Rescue Establishment and Operations Bylaw 2010 No. 0114.

How it works

In West Kelowna, Fire Rescue Establishment and Operations Bylaw No. 0114 treats a small campfire and open burning differently. Westbank First Nation law 2005-11 applies on its own land.

Steps

Campfire: check that no campfire ban is in effect. Check the daily outdoor burning indicator (updated about 8 a.m.) at rdco.com/outdoorburning or call 1-855-262-2876. Fire danger ratings are on BC Wildfire.
Keep the fire to no more than 0.5 m across, for warmth or cooking only. Use seasoned wood, keep a hand tool or 8 litres of water close, and have someone watching.
Open burning of piles: call West Kelowna Fire Rescue at 778-797-3200 for a permit. Permits are for lots over 1 hectare, or smaller lots where the Fire Chief decides burning serves public safety better.
Before each burn, call 1-855-262-2876 to confirm burning is allowed that day.

Good to know

The City's page describes a 45 cm fire pit with 1 m of bare soil around it and 3.6 m of clearance, which differs from the bylaw's 0.5 m. Confirm with Fire Rescue.
Do not burn yard waste or garbage in a campfire. Campfires are not allowed during a ban, and the Fire Chief can suspend campfires or change or cancel permits when conditions are hazardous.
Open burning: season October 1 to April 30. Stay 50 m from buildings, forest and property lines; burn only material from the parcel, between 7:00 a.m. and sunset, when the venting index is 55 or higher. No burn barrels or backyard incinerators.
Alternatives: put yard waste in the green-lidded cart (collected every other week), or take it to the Asquith Road Transfer Station, 2640 Asquith Road ($1 per bag; $5 per vehicle or trailer load up to 4' x 8' x 2').
Fines: burning without a permit, prohibited campfire burning, and burning prohibited materials are $250 each; failing to ensure only permitted materials are burned is $500; making a fire in a City park is $500. A bylaw notice and a municipal ticket are the same amount. The person responsible for an unpermitted fire also pays the cost of putting it out.

Official forms and pages

Fire Rescue Establishment and Operations Bylaw No. 0114 (PDF)

The same question in other places

Peachland · Kelowna · Lake Country · Summerland · Penticton · Vernon

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

Sources

Fire and Rescue, City of West Kelowna (read 2026-11-05)
Fire Rescue Establishment and Operations Bylaw No. 0114 (consolidated) (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
Outdoor burning, Regional District of Central Okanagan (read 2026-11-05)
Yard waste, Regional District of Central Okanagan (read 2026-11-05)
Asquith Road Transfer Station, Regional District of Central Okanagan (read 2026-11-05)
Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 0093 (consolidated) (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
Municipal Ticket Information Utilization Bylaw No. 0095 (consolidated) (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)

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