Burning Regulations

The Sechelt Fire Department is responsible for fire safety within the District of Sechelt and the Sechelt Indian Government District. To this end we regulate only the fire safety aspect of burning within these two areas. The smoke release from these fires are regulated and enforced by other authorities. To follow is a summary of what types of fires there are:

Campfires: Campfires are fires for cooking, warmth or ceremonial purposes. Campfires are not a fire to burn toxic materials, garbage, construction waste, demolition waste or garden refuse. A campfire is typically used as a wiener or marshmallow roast fire. They are also smaller in size, typically not more than three feet across at the base. Campfires are allowed year round within the District of Sechelt and the Sechelt Indian Government District unless the fire department issues a total burn ban. A burn ban is likely over the summer months but some years, when the weather is wetter, campfires are not banned. The fire department enforces campfires by banning them when necessary and by responding to reports of illegal and /or dangerous campfires.

Back yard burning within the District of Sechelt: Back yard burning is the open burning of waste material and garden refuse. Back yard burning is NOT permitted by the District of Sechelt, as of October 21, 2015. Any complaints in regard to back yard burning should be directed to the District of Sechelt Bylaw Officer.

Land clearing burning within the District of Sechelt: Is the burning of vegetative debris as the result of land clearing. These are larger fires that are typically stacked by a machine. Land clearing burning is NOT permitted by the District of Sechelt.

Back yard burning within the Sechelt Indian Government District: Back yard burning is the open burning of waste material and garden refuse. Back yard IS permitted by the SIGD from October 15th to April 15th annually. The fire safety aspect of back yard burning is regulated by the Sechelt Fire Department. The smoke release and or nuisance portion of this bylaw may be enforced by the local bylaw officer, SIGD Superintendent of Public Works, or the RCMP.

Land clearing burning within the Sechelt Indian Government District: Is the burning of vegetative debris as a result of land clearing. These are larger fires that are typically stacked by a machine. Land clearing burning IS permitted by the SIGD under numerous environmental (smoke release) restrictions from October 15th to April 15 annually. The Sechelt Fire Department regulates the safety of land clearing fires through the issuance of a fire safety permit. The smoke release and or nuisance portion of this bylaw may be enforced by the local bylaw officer, SIGD Superintendent of Public Works, or the RCMP.

CAMPFIRES ARE PERMITTED