The Central Okanagan's climate often sees hot, dry summers which increase the risk of interface wildfires. The RDCO has burning regulation bylaws covering Electoral Area East and Electoral Area West (Fire Prevention and Regulations | Bylaw No. 1066 and Smoke Control Regulatory | Bylaw No. 773). These bylaws ensure a safe and healthy outdoor/open burning season, which generally runs from October 1 to April 30, depending on weather and conditions. The City of Kelowna, City of West Kelowna, District of Lake Country and District of Peachland have bylaws for properties within their boundaries.
For open outdoor burning, residents must:
- have a property greater than 1 hectare (2.47 acres)
- obtain a valid burning permit their local fire service
- meet all requirements of the Province of BC's Open Burning Smoke Control Regulation
- follow best practices for burning
- check current conditions on the day they want to burn
Residents who burn without a permit or break the rules of their permit may be subject to fines up to $2,000 or be charged with the cost of putting out the fire by their fire service.
Current conditions
April 3, 2025 - the Regional Board passed a bylaw amendment to the to adjust the minimum venting index from 65 to 55. This aligns with the Province of BC's Open Burning Smoke Control Regulation. Eligible property owners should check with their local fire service for venting index requirements for their particular property.
Current conditions are updated daily at approximately 8 a.m. and are shown below. The conditions can also be accessed by calling the Outdoor Burning Hotline 1-855-262-2876.
For Central Okanagan Electoral Area East and Electoral Area West, open burning is only permitted when the venting index is 55 or greater, and particulate matter (PM2.5 – 24 hr) concentration is less than 15 µg/m3.
Burn status legend:
- Green - Burning is permitted.
- Yellow - Burning may be permitted, depending on location.
- Red - Burning is not permitted. Check alternatives to burning.
- Gray - Burning is not permitted. Data may not be available.
How to get a burning permit
Local fire departments issue burning permits and each department enforces its own bylaw regulations. Residents can apply for a permit through their local fire department.
Property location | Burning permit process |
---|---|
Central Okanagan East Electoral Area and Central Okanagan West Electoral Area |
Regional District of Central Okanagan Phone: 250-469-6223 |
City of Kelowna |
Walk-in only. Fees apply. |
City of West Kelowna |
Phone: 778-797-3200 |
District of Lake Country |
District of Lake Country |
District of Peachland |
Peachland Fire and Rescue Service Phone: 250-767-2841 |
Report illegal burning
If you suspect someone is burning without a permit or the specific local fire and smoke control requirements are not met, call the regional fire dispatch 250-469-8577 immediately.
Anyone burning without a local burning permit or breaking the rules of their permit may be subject to fines up to $2,000 or be charged with the cost of putting out the fire by their fire service.
More resources
Alternatives to open burning |
There are a number of alternatives to open burning. All residents, farmers and orchardists are encouraged to take advantage of other options such as chipping, flail mowing, or air curtain burning to help reduce smoke pollution in the Central Okanagan. Alternatives
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Best practices |
After you have considered alternatives to burning to minimize the amount of wood to be burned, have applied for and received a valid open burning permit, please follow these Open Burning Best Practices and check out the Clean Air Alternatives to Open Burning. Some best practices include:
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Campfires, residential fire pits and other wood burning appliances |
What's the difference between campfires and open outdoor burning?
Unless a prohibition is in place, small campfires are permitted within the RDCO fire service areas in Ellison, Joe Rich, North Westside and Wilson's Landing as well as by the City of West Kelowna, District of Lake Country and District of Peachland. Check with your local fire department for any additional regulations, permits or fire bans. Campfires and outdoor wood burning appliances are not permitted in the City of Kelowna, including fire pits, woodstoves, chimneys, and other appliances unless conditions are met as outlined in Bylaw 10760. You can use an outdoor appliance in the City of Kelowna if the appliance is CSA/ULC, CGA approved (or equivalent) and is fueled by natural gas, propane, gel or charcoal.
Different restrictions are in place for other municipalities in the Central Okanagan, so please check your local bylaws. If you are uncertain or have questions, please speak with your local fire department to see if campfires or wood burning appliances are allowed and if permits/special conditions are required.
In order to prevent health issues or any other problems, it is recommended that campfires should be avoided during poor air quality conditions. This is when:
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Illegal materials |
It is illegal to burn prohibited materials, including, but not limited to:
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Provincial Open Burning Smoke Control Regulation |
The BC Government's Open Burning Smoke Control Regulation divides the province into three smoke sensitivity zones: high, medium and low zones. The Central Okanagan region is within the “high sensitivity zone” and many requirements apply. See the Open Burning Smoke Control Regulation Factsheet - Burning in a High Smoke Sensitivity Zone. These include, but aren't limited to:
Property owners are responsible for meeting provincial requirements and should email the OBSCR directly for more information. If using an Air Curtain incinerator, contact your local fire department to get a permit and check the OBSCR Factsheet – Air Curtain Incinerators. Non-compliance to requirements of the provincial Open Burning Smoke Control Regulation that exceed local bylaws will be enforced by the province and are stricter than local bylaws. Enforcement by the province is managed via reporting to the provincial Report All Poachers and Polluters (RAPP) hotline 1-877-952-7277. If the situation is not an emergency, report the incident online to RAPP or contact the nearest Conservation Officer Services. |
Contact us
Fire Services
1450 KLO Road
Kelowna, BC V1W 3Z4
Phone 250-469-6223
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