---
title: Williams Lake backyard fire and burning rules
question: "Can I have a backyard fire or burn yard waste in Williams Lake?"
place: Williams Lake, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/williams-lake
category: Bylaws, noise and complaints
owner: municipal
owner_body: City of Williams Lake
sources_read: 2026-11-05
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/williams-lake/backyard-fire/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/williams-lake/backyard-fire.json"
---

# Williams Lake backyard fire and burning rules

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

**Short answer:** Williams Lake's Fire Protection and Control Bylaw bans open fires. Allowed: contained cooking fires burning only briquettes and factory-made fire pits listed for backyard use, out by 11 p.m. and at least 20 feet from buildings and property lines. Burning yard waste is not allowed.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Williams Lake, https://www.williamslake.ca)  
**Cost:** No fee for the special-occasion burning permit is listed in the bylaw. Fines are $250 or more.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Fire Department office, 250-392-4321
- Phone: City Hall, 250-392-2311

## Key facts

- **Backyard campfires:** Open fires are banned except contained outdoor cooking fires burning only briquettes, and factory-made fire pits listed for backyard use. Fire pit rules: 20 ft from property lines and buildings, 10 ft from combustibles, on a level non-combustible surface, hose or water at hand, attended by an adult, clean dry wood no thicker than 3 inches, out by 11 p.m.
  - Source: [Fire Protection and Control Bylaw No. 2189, 2013 (consolidated), s. 501](https://williamslake.civicweb.net/document/58244)
  - Official wording: "No person shall light, ignite, start or maintain, or allow or cause to be lighted, ignited, started" … "outdoor cooking fires provided the fire is contained in a device or fixture designed for" … "factory made fire pits listed for use in a backyard shall be permitted"
  - Source: [Fire Protection and Control Bylaw No. 2189, 2013 (consolidated), Schedule F](https://williamslake.civicweb.net/document/58244)
  - Official wording: "the fire pit must be located at least 20 feet from any property lines and buildings and 10 feet" … "only clean dry wood with a maximum thickness of 3 inches is permitted to be burned" … "the fire must be extinguished by 11:00 PM"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Burning yard waste:** No. Burning yard waste, garden waste or debris is not allowed; open fires are banned except the listed exceptions, and backyard fire pits and special-occasion fires may not burn residential waste including yard material.
  - Source: [Fire Protection and Control Bylaw No. 2189, 2013 (consolidated), s. 501](https://williamslake.civicweb.net/document/58244)
  - Official wording: "No person shall light, ignite, start or maintain, or allow or cause to be lighted, ignited, started"
  - Source: [Fire Protection and Control Bylaw No. 2189, 2013 (consolidated), Schedule F](https://williamslake.civicweb.net/document/58244)
  - Official wording: "the fire must not be used to burn residential waste, including yard material, garden"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Permit:** Fire Department officers may issue a special-occasion burning permit (Schedule D) for a fire in a masonry, rock or metal pit no more than 24 inches across, 20 ft from property lines and buildings. No fee for it is listed in the bylaw's fee schedule. Fire Department office 250-392-4321.
  - Source: [Fire Protection and Control Bylaw No. 2189, 2013 (consolidated), s. 502](https://williamslake.civicweb.net/document/58244)
  - Official wording: "Officers may issue a burning permit as set out in Schedule “D”, for special occasion burning." … "the fire must be contained in a masonry, rock or metal pit not to exceed 24 inches in"
  - Source: [Fire Protection and Control Bylaw No. 2189, 2013 (consolidated), Schedule D](https://williamslake.civicweb.net/document/58244)
  - Official wording: "Office: (250) 392- 4321" … "SPECIAL OCCASION BURNING PERMIT"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fire bans:** An Officer may cancel or suspend a burning permit or add conditions because of hazardous conditions, and no one may light a fire contrary to an order. Inside city limits, BC Wildfire Service orders usually do not apply and the City sets its own bans, so check with the City (Fire Department 250-392-4321).
  - Source: [Fire Protection and Control Bylaw No. 2189, 2013 (consolidated), s. 503](https://williamslake.civicweb.net/document/58244)
  - Official wording: "An Officer may, due to hazardous conditions, cancel or suspend for such time as is"
  - Source: [Fire Protection and Control Bylaw No. 2189, 2013 (consolidated), s. 504](https://williamslake.civicweb.net/document/58244)
  - Official wording: "No person shall light, ignite, start or maintain, or allow or cause to be lighted, ignited, started or maintained, any fire contrary to an order."
  - Source: [Fire Prohibitions and Restrictions - Province of British Columbia, BC Wildfire Service, Fire Prohibitions and Restrictions, within municipal boundaries](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/wildfire-status/prevention/fire-bans-and-restrictions)
  - Official wording: "Municipalities typically implement their own open fire prohibitions that may follow or vary from BCWS prohibitions." … "Even if there are no provincial open fire prohibitions in place, always check with local government authorities for any other open fire restrictions."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Instead of burning:** Yard and garden waste is accepted at the Central Cariboo Transfer Station, 5025 Frizzi Road, Williams Lake. Leaves, grass, cones and sawdust are free (no plastic bags). Open daily: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. March 1 to October 31; 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. November 1 to February 28.
  - Source: [Central Cariboo Transfer Station, Cariboo Regional District, page](https://www.cariboord.ca/living-here/garbage-and-recycling/landfills-and-transfer-stations/central-cariboo-transfer-station/)
  - Official wording: "5025 Frizzi Road, Williams Lake" … "Household garbage, yard and garden waste, clean wood waste" … "March 1st - October 31st" … "8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m." … "November 1st - Feb 28th" … "8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m."
  - Source: [Solid Waste Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 5519, 2025, Schedule A and D (Cariboo Regional District)](https://media-002-ca.cdn.govstack.com/cariboord-015-ca/media/0miopcve/ccts-tipping-fees-2025_2027_2029.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Leaves, Grass, Cones and Sawdust" … "No plastic bags permitted"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** Bylaw notice: $250 for burning contrary to the bylaw ($190 if paid within 14 days; $315 late); $250 for burning contrary to a permit's conditions; $450 for burning contrary to an order ($340 early; $565 late).
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2196, 2013 (consolidated), Schedule A-8](https://williamslake.civicweb.net/document/61839)
  - Official wording: "Burning contrary to an order" … "Burning contrary to this Bylaw" … "$450.00" … "$340.00" … "$565.00" … "$250.00" … "$190.00" … "$315.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Fire Protection and Control Bylaw No. 2189, 2013
  - Source: [Fire Protection and Control Bylaw No. 2189, 2013 (consolidated), s. 501](https://williamslake.civicweb.net/document/58244)
  - Official wording: "No person shall light, ignite, start or maintain, or allow or cause to be lighted, ignited, started"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Section 501 of the [Fire Protection and Control Bylaw](https://williamslake.civicweb.net/document/58244) bans open fires in the City, with a few exceptions. Burning yard waste, garden waste or debris is not allowed. Backyard fire pits and special-occasion fires may not burn residential waste, including yard material.

## What is allowed

- A contained outdoor cooking fire burning only briquettes.
- A factory-made fire pit listed for backyard use, following these rules: 20 feet from property lines and buildings and 10 feet from combustibles; on a level non-combustible surface; a hose or water at hand; attended by an adult; clean dry wood no thicker than 3 inches; no heavy smoke or noxious odours; no burning in strong winds; out by 11 p.m.
- A special-occasion burning permit, which a Fire Department officer may issue, for a fire in a masonry, rock or metal pit no more than 24 inches across, 20 feet from property lines and buildings. No fee for it is listed in the bylaw's fee schedule. Ask the Fire Department office, 250-392-4321. A fire pit that meets the rules above needs no permit.

## Fire bans

An officer may cancel or suspend a burning permit or add conditions because of hazardous conditions, and no one may light a fire contrary to an order. Inside city limits, BC Wildfire Service orders usually do not apply and the City sets its own bans, so check with the City (Fire Department, 250-392-4321) before lighting any fire.

## Good to know

- Yard and garden waste can go to the Central Cariboo Transfer Station instead; see the yard-waste answer.
- Bylaw notices: $250 for burning contrary to the bylaw ($190 if paid within 14 days; $315 if paid late); $250 for burning contrary to a permit's conditions; $450 for burning contrary to an order ($340 early; $565 late). A fire in a park or on public land is $250.
- The City's copy of the bylaw is dated 2019; later changes, if any, were not seen.

## Official forms and pages

- [Fire Protection and Control Bylaw 2189 (consolidated PDF, Schedules D and F)](https://williamslake.civicweb.net/document/58244)

## Related questions

- [Williams Lake fireworks rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/williams-lake/fireworks.md)
- [Williams Lake bylaw fines and how tickets work](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/williams-lake/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)
- [100 Mile House](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/100-mile-house/backyard-fire.md)
- [Quesnel](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/quesnel/backyard-fire.md)
- [Wells](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/wells/backyard-fire.md)
- [Cache Creek](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cache-creek/backyard-fire.md)
- [Clearwater](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/clearwater/backyard-fire.md)
- [Lillooet](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lillooet/backyard-fire.md)

## Sources

- [Fire Protection and Control Bylaw No. 2189, 2013 (consolidated)](https://williamslake.civicweb.net/document/58244) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2196, 2013 (consolidated), Schedule A-8](https://williamslake.civicweb.net/document/61839) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Fire Prohibitions and Restrictions, BC Wildfire Service](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/wildfire-status/prevention) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Central Cariboo Transfer Station, Cariboo Regional District](https://www.cariboord.ca/living-here/garbage-and-recycling/landfills-and-transfer-stations/central-cariboo-transfer-station/) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Fire Prohibitions and Restrictions - Province of British Columbia](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/wildfire-status/prevention/fire-bans-and-restrictions) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Solid Waste Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 5519, 2025, Schedule A and D (Cariboo Regional District)](https://media-002-ca.cdn.govstack.com/cariboord-015-ca/media/0miopcve/ccts-tipping-fees-2025_2027_2029.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. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with City of Williams Lake. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/williams-lake/backyard-fire/_