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Open Burning Vegetative Debris

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Open burning is prohibited unless you obtain authorization from Metro Vancouver. Metro Vancouver authorizations do not replace a municipal burn permit. Contact your local fire department for information about how to obtain a municipal burn permit.

Choose one option to obtain Metro Vancouver authorization:

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Registration and approval fees

Authorization type Agricultural Commercial Residential Wildfire ​risk management
Bylaw 1355
Initial Registration Fee
Agricultural: $100 Commercial: $250 Residential: $50 Wildfire ​risk management: $50
Bylaw 1355
Renewal Fee
Agricultural: $50 Commercial: $100
Residential: $25 Wildfire ​risk management: $25
Bylaw 1082
Open Burning Approval1
Agricultural: $100 Commercial: $1,000 Residential: $1,000 Wildfire ​risk management: $1,000


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Open Burning Approval fees are assessed on each approval.

Open Burning registration system

Register below for burning under Bylaw 1355 using the Open Burning Registration System.

Open Burning Online Registration System

Call us at 604-432-OBER (6237) or OBER@metrovancouver.org if you need help with the registration system.

Before you burn

  1. You must reduce or eliminate the amount of material to be burnt.
    • Alternatives to open burning include chipping, grinding, or shredding, and beneficial re-use like composting and mulching.
  2. Ensure there are no prohibited materials in your burn pile(s).
  3. Register to burn under OBER or apply for an Open Burning Approval.
    • Ensure your open burn meets the requirements of OBER or approval issued by Metro Vancouver.
    • Do not burn more than 12 days or portions of days in a year and 6 days or portions of days in a month.
  4. Notify your neighbors of your intent to burn and open burning location. Notification can be done by email, mail, phone, hand delivery, social media, or posting a notice on the property line at the nearest publically accessible location to the planned open burning.
  5. Notify Metro Vancouver of your intent to burn by:
  6. Call 604-436-6777 before starting a burn to find out if Metro Vancouver’s ventilation index allows a burn to be started or continued.
    • Additional burning days are available when using an air curtain incinerator.
  7. Complete and keep an Open Burning R​ecord Sheet, so you can meet the record keeping requirements of OBER.

Why does Metro Vancouver restrict open burning?

Metro Vancouver’s mandate is to protect human health and the environment. Smoke emissions from open-air burning of vegetative debris contain fine particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds, and other harmful substances. These air contaminants can affect health and the environment, and some contribute to climate change. Because of the population density in parts of Metro Vancouver, smoke emissions from open-air burning can impact many people. Within the region, open-air burning activities are authorized for specific times under certain conditions, and this can create the potential for short-term exposure to elevated levels of smoke.

The regulation provides a simpler and more efficient way to manage open-air burning of vegetative debris in cases where specified requirements are met, while protecting air quality and health.

What is the Ventilation Index?

The ventilation index tells you how quickly and effectively the smoke will flush out of an area. The index is based on the wind speed and the thickness of the so-called “mixing layer” of the atmosphere.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Good vent​i​​lation index

Smoke rises quickly and/ or disperses rapidly.

good ventilation index info graph

Poor ventilatio​​n index

Smoke from chimneys or small fires tends to linger near the source or form a shallow trail that extends downwind.

poor ventilation index info graph

 Related links

 

 

Air Contaminantshttps://metrovancouver.org/services/environmental-regulation-enforcement/air-quality-regulatory-program/air-contaminants, Air ContaminantsAir Contaminants
Alternatives to Open Burning Best Practices Guidehttps://metrovancouver.org/services/air-quality-climate-action/Documents/alternatives-to-open-burning-best-practices-guide.pdf, Alternatives to Open Burning Best Practices GuideAlternatives to Open Burning Best Practices Guide
Alternatives to Open Burning Best Practices Guide - Punjabihttps://metrovancouver.org/services/air-quality-climate-action/Documents/alternatives-to-open-burning-best-practices-guide-punjabi.pdf, Alternatives to Open Burning Best Practices Guide - PunjabiAlternatives to Open Burning Best Practices Guide - Punjabi
Alternatives to Open Burning Best Practices Guide - Simplified Chinesehttps://metrovancouver.org/services/air-quality-climate-action/Documents/alternatives-to-open-burning-best-practices-guide-simplified-chinese.pdf, Alternatives to Open Burning Best Practices Guide - Simplified ChineseAlternatives to Open Burning Best Practices Guide - Simplified Chinese
Alternatives to Open Burning Best Practices Guide - Traditional Chinesehttps://metrovancouver.org/services/air-quality-climate-action/Documents/alternatives-to-open-burning-best-practices-guide-traditional-chinese.pdf, Alternatives to Open Burning Best Practices Guide - Traditional ChineseAlternatives to Open Burning Best Practices Guide - Traditional Chinese
Apply for a Permithttps://metrovancouver.org/services/environmental-regulation-enforcement/air-quality-regulatory-program/apply-for-a-permit, Apply for a PermitApply for a Permit
BC Ministry of Environment Venting Indexhttp://www.env.gov.bc.ca/epd/epdpa/venting/venting.html, BC Ministry of Environment Venting IndexBC Ministry of Environment Venting Index
MVRD Open Burning Emission Regulation Bylaw No. 1355, 2022https://metrovancouver.org/boards/Bylaws/MVRD_Bylaw_1355.pdf, MVRD Open Burning Emission Regulation Bylaw No. 1355, 2022MVRD Open Burning Emission Regulation Bylaw No. 1355, 2022
Open Burninghttps://metrovancouver.org/services/environmental-regulation-enforcement/air-quality-regulatory-program/open-burning, Open BurningOpen Burning
Open Burning Rack Cardhttps://metrovancouver.org/services/air-quality-climate-action/Documents/aq-open-air-burning-emission-regulation-bylaw-1355-rackcard.pdf, Open Burning Rack CardOpen Burning Rack Card
Open Burning Registration Systemhttps://service.metrovancouver.org/OBRS/, Open Burning Registration SystemOpen Burning Registration System
Open Burning Rentalhttps://metrovancouver.org/services/environmental-regulation-enforcement/air-quality-regulatory-program/open-burning-equipment-rental-and-purchase-information, Open Burning RentalOpen Burning Rental

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