Burning season in Central Saanich is now open (October 16, 2026 - May 15, 2027) All outdoor burning requires a permit which can be obtained online here: Burning Permit Application or at Fire Hall #1, 1512 Keating Cross Road.
If you have any questions, please contact the Fire Prevention Department at 250-544-4238 or visit us at 1512 Keating Cross Road.
Small backyard recreational fires - what you need to know:
Recreational Fires are permitted during this time (unless there is a provincial fire ban).
Recreational fires are permitted regardless of the Venting Index unless a fire ban is in place. A recreational fire is a maximum size of 1.5 feet (0.5 meters) high by 1.5 feet wide using clean, proper firewood for recreation purposes, which includes cooking or heating.
Recreational fires must be situated at least 3 meters away from any building, structure, fence, property line, trees, bushes or other combustible materials.
Please remember: The CRD does not permit beach fires at Island View Beach, however, you can still roast your marshmallows at the beach! Portable propane and charcoal briquette appliances are permitted.
Don’t hesitate to contact the Central Saanich Fire Department if you have questions or concerns about burning regulations, or if you would like to set up an appointment to have one of our Fire Department Officers come by to provide you with a complimentary safety inspection of your outdoor burning appliance at 250-544-4238 or send an email to fdadmin@csaanich.ca
Thank you for your cooperation in improving air quality creates a healthier community for residents and protects our natural environment.
Important Burning Information
Below are the general requirements for all other Open Burning as per the revised Open Burning Regulation Bylaw 2058
Open fires will be limited to the winter burning season October 16 - May 15
Open fires require a permit from the fire department; the exception being Recreational Fires
Every reasonable alternative for reducing, reusing, or recycling the vegetative debris is to be used in order to minimize the amount of vegetative debris to be open burned;
Every reasonable effort shall be made to minimize any soil content that may be mixed in the with the vegetative debris
Burn piles are to be constructed in a way that maximizes airflow through the vegetative debris in the pile
Open Burning shall not start earlier than 1 hour after sunrise; and end by 4pm or 2 hours before sunset whichever later
The venting forecast for Domestic Yard Waste Fires and Agricultural Purpose Fires must be "Good" or "Fair" for the afternoon (4pm) prediction for Southern Vancouver Island on the day of the burn;
To improve air quality in Central Saanich the regulations for Open Burning have been updated.
Once you have a permit, please check the Provincial Ventilation Index before burning. You are only able to burn when it is forecast to be "good" or "fair" (as of 4 pm) on the day you want to burn--even if you're burning that morning.
On days when the index is poor, smoke does not disperse well into the atmosphere causing poor air quality.
Open burning is permitted on any day of the week when the Venting Index forecast is "Good" or "Fair." Permits can be picked up at Fire Station #1 (1512 Keating Cross Road).
Definitions
Domestic Yard Waste Fires maximum pile size is one meter high by one meter wide; with branches or other pieces of vegetative debris, with or without leaves, that are no greater than 3 cm (1") in diameter. Domestic Yard Waste piles must be situated at least 7.5 meters (25ft) away from any building, structure, fence, property line, trees, bushes or other combustible materials.
Agricultural Purpose Fires are open fires that take place on lands located within the Agricultural Land Reserve, or lands that are deemed to be Farm status by BC Assessment. The open burning is conducted using one to two piles, with each pile being a maximum size of two meters high by three meters wide where branches or other pieces of vegetative debris, with or without leaves, are no greater than 10 cm (4") in diameter. Agricultural Purpose fires must be situated at least 15 meters (50ft) away from any building, structure, fence, property line, trees, bushes or other combustible materials. Please see Open Burning Practices for Farmer and Ranchers for current guidelines.
Category 3 Fires (As defined by the Wildfire Act) are open fires with three or more piles with each pile being a maximum size of two meters high by three meters wide, or a single pile that is larger than two meters high by three meters wide, or any open fire where the burning of branches or other pieces of vegetative debris with or without leaves that are greater than 10 cm (4"), Permit holders must follow the Open Burning Smoke Control Regulations that was revised on September 15, 2019. Category 3 fires are regulated by the province with no exemptions.
