A pile of cut branches and dry brush looks like a simple bonfire. In Metro Vancouver it is not. Open burning is barred unless it has been authorized, and a Metro Vancouver authorization does not replace a permit from your municipality. Before you light anything, confirm the rules below, because most homeowners have a simpler route.
What Metro Vancouver says about open burning
Metro Vancouver's open burning authorization page starts with a simple rule: open burning is prohibited unless you obtain authorization. There are two routes. You can register under the Open Burning Emission Regulation Bylaw No. 1355, or apply for an approval under the Air Quality Management Bylaw No. 1082.
The page also makes clear that the regional authorization does not stand in for a municipal burn permit. Your local fire department is the contact for that permit, and many municipalities do not allow burning at all.
The page walks you through a set of questions. The first is whether you can get rid of the yard debris without burning. If you can, there is nothing more to do. If you cannot, it asks:
- Does your municipal fire department allow burning?
- Is the burn pile larger than a campfire (60 cm x 75 cm)?
- Is the pile at least 100 m from buildings on neighbouring properties, and 500 m from the property lines of hospitals, schools and community care facilities?
If the answer to the distance question is no, the page says you cannot burn and invites you to call Metro Vancouver at 604-432-6237 for options.
The alternatives the regional page lists first
Metro Vancouver names the options it wants you to try before burning: chipping, grinding, shredding, and reuse such as composting and mulching. A rented chipper turns branches into mulch you can spread on your own beds. A pile of leaves and grass clippings can go into the compost or the green cart.
Yard waste routes that need no permit
Every city has its own way to take yard trimmings, and the rules differ on volume and branch size.
- Your green cart. Curbside organics collection takes the usual yard trimmings. Your city's page lists size and bundling limits.
- City depots. Richmond's Recycling Depot accepts grass, leaves, plant trimmings, trees and shrubs. Residents get up to 1 cubic yard free, with $25 for each additional cubic yard. It does not take stumps or branches over 10 cm (4 in) in diameter.
- Burnaby's Eco-Centre. The City says residents can drop off green waste, and it lists a 100 kg figure for the free daily load. Bring proof of residency and check the City's page for the current terms.
- Metro Vancouver and City facilities. The regional facilities accept green waste for a fee.
See our organics recycling page for the wider picture of how green waste is handled.
When the pile is too big for a cart
A storm cleanup, a hedge teardown or a cleared back lot can leave far more than a cart holds. A bin works for this kind of job. The bin comes from us, you load it, and we collect it when it is full. If you are planning a green waste load, ask about bin sizes when you book, and we will tell you what fits the job. Our posts on yard waste bin rental and windstorm cleanup cover the planning in more detail.
If you are in Maple Ridge or Langley, the same rule applies. Authorization comes first, and your local fire department is the contact for the municipal permit.
Putting the bin on your driveway takes no permit. Some cities need a permit for a bin on the street or lane, so confirm with your City before you book. We will time delivery to any permit dates.
FAQ
Is open burning legal in Metro Vancouver? Open burning is prohibited unless you get authorization from Metro Vancouver, and that does not replace a municipal burn permit.
Who do I call about a burn permit? Metro Vancouver says to contact your local fire department for a municipal burn permit. For Metro Vancouver authorization questions, the page lists 604-432-6237.
What can I do with branches instead of burning? Metro Vancouver lists chipping, grinding, shredding, and reuse such as composting and mulching.
How big can a burn pile be before I need authorization? Metro Vancouver's page asks whether the pile is larger than a campfire (60 cm x 75 cm). A larger pile needs authorization.
What bin size should I use for yard waste? Ask when you book. We will help match a bin to the load.