Open burning ban rescinded in North Cowichan

Effective Wednesday, September 18, 2024, at noon, the current ban on Category 2 & 3 fires will be rescinded for the Municipality of North Cowichan. 

The fall open burning window will take place from September 18 at noon until November 30. Open burning during this time is only permitted in limited circumstances in North Cowichan:

If your property is inside the Urban Containment Boundary* (UCB):

• Property must be 2 acres or greater
• Owner/tenant must obtain a municipal permit (no fee)
• Only when the venting index** is good

If your property is outside the UCB*:

• Only when the venting index** is good

If you are permitted to burn, fires must be located at least 4 metres from all buildings, structures, and combustible and flammable materials, and 10 metres from all property lines. Learn the difference between campfires, category 2 fires, and category 3 fires: Open fire regulations

The lifting of the ban also means that the following previously prohibited items will be permitted:

• Fireworks (fireworks are only permitted in North Cowichan if you have an approved permit: www.northcowichan.ca/fireworks), sky lanterns, burning barrels or burning cages of any size or description, and the use of binary exploding targets (e.g. for rifle target practice)

*Use this mapping tool to find out if your property is inside or outside the Urban Containment Boundary (UCB). 

** Visit the Provincial venting index webpage and scroll down to "SRN VANCOUVER ISLAND" or call 1-888-281-2992 for a recorded message of the daily venting index for Southern Vancouver Island.

Effective Wednesday, August 28, 2024 at noon, the current ban on recreational (campfires) will be rescinded for the Municipality of North Cowichan.

Activities permitted include:

• Campfires
• Tiki and similar kind of torches
• Chimineas, outdoor stoves and other portable campfire apparatuses that are not CSA-approved or ULC-approved.

The following activities and equipment are still currently prohibited throughout the Coastal Fire Centre: 

• Category 3 open fires
• Category 2 open fires
• Binary Exploding Targets
• Fireworks – as per North Cowichan Bylaws
• Sky lanterns                                                     

Refer to sections 11 & 12 of the Fire Protection Bylaw for specific restrictions that could be in effect for your area.

An open burning ban is in place for North Cowichan effective 12pm on July 12, 2024. 

This ban includes all burning done or a fire set in accordance with federal or provincial regulations. This ban also includes the following:

• Campfires
• Category 2 open fires
• Category 3 open fires
• Fires burning woody debris in outdoor stoves
• Tiki torches or similar torches
• Fireworks
• Firecrackers
• Sky lanterns
• Chimineas 
• Burning barrels or burning cages of any size or Description
• Binary exploding targets (e.g. for rifle target practice)

This prohibition does not apply to CSA-rated or ULC- rated cooking stoves that use gas, propane or briquettes, or to a portable campfire apparatus that uses briquettes, liquid or gaseous fuel, so long as the height of the flame is less than 15 centimeters.

As per Part 9 of Fire Protection Bylaw 2021, Bylaw No. 3841