Backyard Burning

Report Burning

Monday to Sunday from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, call the City’s Bylaw, Licensing & Community Safety department at 604-467-7305. For complaints outside of these hours, please call the Fire Department "non-emergency" number at 604-463-5880 and follow the voice prompts - Press '1' to speak to a dispatcher who will handle your concern. Thank you for doing your part to maintain a fire safe community.

Backyard Fire Criteria & Alternatives

When there is no fire ban enacted, properties located within the "Open to Burning" area on the Interactive Map may burn dry garden refuse from April 15 to May 15 and from October 15 to November 15 with a valid permit. The fire must be located a minimum of 15 metres from structures, property lines and the forest interface. 

Properties located within the "Area Closed to Burning" Interactive Map are not allowed any type of wood burning fires, including open pit campfires or outdoor wood burning appliances.

Before choosing to burn, please consider the Brush Chipping Program, which the Ridge Meadows Recycling Society coordinates in partnership with the City of Maple Ridge. Advanced registration is not required.

Guidelines

If you do choose to burn, the following guidelines apply:

  • Contact the Maple Ridge Fire Department at 604-463-5880 for questions regarding burning permits.
  • A "backyard fire" is an outdoor fire where garden refuse such as leaves and small branches indigenous to the property are burned for the purpose of disposal due to garden cleanup or damage from high winds
  • Permits are $25.00, available from the Maple Ridge Fire Department Hall No. 1 (cash or cheque only), the City Hall Finance Department, or online. Visit this link to purchase a permit online.  
  • For the current burning season, online Backyard Fire Permits were available after 08:00 a.m. on October 3, 2023.
  • Permits may be revoked and fines can be issued by the Fire Department for non-compliance of the Bylaw
  • The Fire Chief may revoke permits if weather conditions are such to render the lighting of fires in open area hazardous or the ventilation index is less than "good"
  • Residents in the "Area Open to Burning" must follow Bylaw 5535-1997 (PDF)
  • You must comply with all regulations and restrictions contained in the bylaw; the following rules are included in the bylaw:
    • Must be a minimum of 15 metres from any building, structure, overhead wires or cables and forest interface
    • Must have a person 19 years of age or older is, at all times, present at the recreational fire and until the fire is totally extinguished, for the purposes of supervising and extinguishing the fire
    • A water hose, connected to an available water supply and shovel must be present for the duration of the fire and until it is extinguished
    • Outdoor fires must be contained within a pit or permanent walls for the purpose of warmth, cooking or a social gathering

What Can I Burn?

 You can burn: 

  • Leaves, branches and other vegetation that grow on the property

 You are NOT allowed to burn: 

  • Any materials hauled onto the property from another site
  • Dimensional lumber (2-by-4-inch lumber, etc.) or waste lumber ends
  • Construction materials of any kind
  • Old buildings, sheds, barns
  • Furniture or other finished goods
  • Plastics, tires, insulation
  • Garbage of any kind, including paper and newspaper

Recreational Fire (Campfire)

“Recreational Fire” is an outdoor fire contained within a pit or permanent walls for the purpose of warmth, cooking or a social gathering.

The property must be located within the area marked “Area Open to Burning”. Check to see if you are permitted to have a Recreational/Camp fire on the interactive map link below.

Enter your address in the search area and the map will provide your answer.

The general rules for a Recreational/Camp Fire are as follows; no person shall start or maintain a fire:
  • Larger than 0.5 metres in diameter and flame height higher than 0.5 metres
  • Within fifteen (15) metres of any building, structure, overhead wires or cables
  • Unless a person nineteen (19) years of age or older is, at all times, present at the recreational fire and until the fire is totally extinguished, for the purposes of supervising and extinguishing the fire
  • Unless a water hose, connected to an available water supply and shovel is present for the duration of the fire and until it is fully extinguished
Click here for a link to the interactive map
Camfire Regulations Full