Open Burning is permitted from October 15 to April 15.
Before burning you must have both a BIM burn permit and a Metro Vancouver burn permit.

Open burning is using fire to dispose of piled materials.

Open burning creates a significant amount of smoke that contributes to pollutants such as smog and ground-level ozone that can trigger a variety of health problems including chest pain, coughing, throat irritation and congestion. Open burning is a significant environmental concern. Please consider other forms of disposal such as chipping, composting, grinding or the use of an air curtain burner.

Open Burning Is An Environmental Concern. Please Consider Other Forms Of Disposal.

Open burning is permitted with municipal and regional permits that comply with Air Quality Management requirements from noon on Sunday, October 15, 2023 until Monday, April 15, 2024 on days allowed by Metro Vancouver’s ventilation index.

Open burning is different than having a campfire. Campfires are for cooking and warmth and are no larger than 0.5 m in height and 0.5 m in width. 

Types of open burning

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Category 2 (Minor clean-up)

  • No larger than 2 m high x 3 m wide
  • Requires Metro Vancouver Open Burning Vegetative Debris approval
  • Requires a BIM Burning Permit
  • On the day of your burn you must call 604-436-6777 and follow the prompts to find out whether open burning is allowed each day you plan to burn. This information is available daily after 8:30 AM. Only burn when Metro Vancouver’s Open Burning Advisory indicates that burning is allowed.   
  • Can be stacked by hand
  • Only permitted on private property. No fires are to be located on Municipal property, public roads or road allowances. 
  • No material other than wood, paper or cardboard shall be used to start, assist or enhance the burning. The following material is PROHIBITED; tires, paint, manure, clothing, plastics, special waste, rubber, battery boxes, drywall, tar paper, asphalt, leather, demolition waste, treated lumber, fuel containers, domestic waste, railway ties, biomedical waste, and lubricant containers. 
  • The materials to be burned shall have originated on the property for which the permit is issued. 
  • Every effort should be made to have a hot fire, with emphasis on reducing the output of smoke as much as possible. 
  • The permittee shall be responsible for fires authorized by their permits. 
  • The permittee shall extinguish all fires completely upon suspension or cancellation of their permits, or when instructed to do so by Bowen Island Fire Rescue. 
  • The permittee shall provide at the site during light-up and for actively patrolling and preventing escape of fires authorized by these permits at least one adult equipped with suitable hand tools to effectively safeguard the fire.

Category 3 (Land clearing or other major burning)

  • Larger than 2 m high x 3 m wide
  • Requires Metro Vancouver Open Burning Vegetative Debris approval
  • Requires a BIM Burning Permit
  • Requires a site visit from the Fire Chief or Deputy Fire Chief. Once you have applied for your permit, call (604) 947-9324 to arrange a site visit. 
  • Requires a Provincial burn registration number. You can find information on the Provincial website.
  • On the day of your burn you must call 604-436-6777 and follow the prompts to find out whether open burning is allowed each day you plan to burn. This information is available daily after 8:30 AM. Only burn when Metro Vancouver’s “Open Burning Advisory” indicates that burning is allowed.   
  • On the day of the burn you must call and leave a message on the Bowen Island Fire Rescue non-emergency line at (604) 947-9324.
  • Only permitted on private property. No fires are to be located on Municipal property, public roads or road allowances. 
  • Each permit will be for 72 hours only upon ignition of the burn. 
  • No material other than wood, paper or cardboard shall be used to start, assist or enhance the burning. The following material is PROHIBITED; tires, paint, manure, clothing, plastics, special waste, rubber, battery boxes, drywall, tar paper, asphalt, leather, demolition waste, treated lumber, fuel containers, domestic waste, railway ties, biomedical waste, and lubricant containers. 
  • Every effort should be made to have a hot fire, with emphasis on reducing the output of smoke as much as possible. 
  • The materials to be burned shall have originated on the property for which the permit is issued. 
  • The permittee shall be responsible for fires authorized by their permits. 
  • The permittee shall extinguish all fires completely on or before the expiry date of their permits; or shall extinguish them upon suspension or cancellation of their permits, or when instructed to do so by Bowen Island Fire Rescue.
  • The permittee shall provide at the site during light-up and for actively patrolling and preventing escape of fires authorized by these permits at least one adult equipped with suitable hand tools to effectively safeguard the fires or equipment and an equipment operator. The required tools and equipment are at the discretion of the Fire Chief or Deputy Fire Chief.

Fees

 Category 2 Burning Permit No Cost
 Category 3 Burning Permit $50.00

Online payment is accepted via e-transfer to finance@bimbc.ca. We accept cash, cheque or debit at Municipal Hall. Sorry, we do not accept credit cards.