Outdoor Burning Regulation Bylaw No. 5535-1997

Maple Ridge, British Columbia

This is the exact embedded text of the captured official document. Snapshot 029e894b6aa7 · verified 2026-08-23 · original document · archived snapshot · unofficial consolidation, the official version is held by the municipal clerk.

THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENT HAS BEEN REPRODUCED FOR CONVENIENCE ONLY and is a consolidation of the following: 1. Maple Ridge Outdoor Burning Regulation Bylaw No. 5535-1997 2. Maple Ridge Outdoor Burning Regulation Amending Bylaw No. 6363-2005 Individual copies of any of the above by-laws can be obtained by contacting the Clerk's Department. CORPORATION OF THE DISTRICT OF MAPLE RIDGE BY-LAW NO. 5535-1997 A by-law to regulate outdoor burning in the District of Maple Ridge WHEREAS it is deemed expedient to separate the outdoor burning provisions from Maple Ridge Fire Prevention By-law No. 4111-1988; AND WHEREAS Council has decided to reduce the amount of outdoor burning allowed in the municipality by introducing permit fees along with a chipping program, all in an effort to improve the air quality, reduce the number of burning complaints and follow more closely the norm of Greater Vancouver Regional District municipalities; NOW THEREFORE, the Municipal Council of the Corporation of the District of Maple Ridge in open meeting assembled, ENACTS AS FOLLOWS: 1. This By-law shall be cited for all purposes as "Maple Ridge Outdoor Burning Regulation By-law No. 5535-1997". 2. Maple Ridge Fire Prevention By-law No. 4111-1988 is amended by (a) deleting sections 40 through to and including 50, in their entirety; (b) deleting section 53 in its entirety; and (c) deleting Schedules B and C in their entirety. DEFINITIONS 3. For the purpose of this by-law, unless the context otherwise requires: "Agricultural Fire" is an outdoor fire where weeds, crops or stubble from agriculture are deliberately burned for disposal on property where farming is taking place. By-law No. 5535-1997 Page 2 "animal organic waste" means organic waste material of animal origin and includes flesh, carcasses, offal, hides, faeces and feathers. "Backyard Fire" is an outdoor fire where garden refuse such as leaves, prunings and small branches indigenous to the property are deliberately burned for the purpose of disposal due to garden clean-up or damage from high winds. "demolition or construction waste" means any material resulting from or produced by the construction, renovation, repair or demolition of a building or structure, whether complete or partial. "District" means the Corporation of the District of Maple Ridge. "Fire Chief" means the person appointed by Council of the Corporation of the District of Maple Ridge to be in charge of the Fire Department as well as those people in the positions of Deputy Fire Chief, Chief Fire Prevention Officer, Chief Training Officer, Chief Fire Prevention Inspector and Captains in charge of fire crews. "Issuer" means the employee of the District occupying the Information Desk on the ground floor of the Municipal Hall or in that person's absence, the receptionist on the second floor of the Municipal Hall (11995 Haney Place). "noxious material" includes tires, plastics, rubber products, drywall, demolition or construction waste, paint, special waste, animal organic waste, vegetable waste, food waste, biomedical waste, tar, asphalt products, battery boxes, plastic materials and waste petroleum products. "permit" means a permit required or issued under this By-law. "outdoor fire" means a fire that burns outdoors in the open air that is not enclosed in a fireplace, furnace or other such device, but does not include a controlled fire ignited for the burning of tobacco products for personal consumption nor the mere striking of a match. "Recreational Fire" is an outdoor fire contained within a pit or permanent walls for the purpose of warmth, cooking or a social gathering. "ventilation index" means the Environment Canada forecast ventilation index which provides regional information on airflow venting. The Greater Vancouver Regional District provides burning advisories by 0830 hours on regular working days; at other times the ventilation index may be obtained by calling 1-900-565- 5000, after 0800 hours. 4. The meaning of any word or term not defined in this by-law shall be defined firstly by the Maple Ridge Fire Prevention By-law No. 4111-1988, secondly by the Waste Management Act, R.S.B.C.1996 Chp 482, and thirdly by the Interpretation Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, Chp.238. By-law No. 5535-1997 Page 3 OUTDOOR BURNING PROHIBITION 5. No person shall (a) except as expressly permitted by this by-law, start or maintain any outdoor fire or allow any outdoor fire on property owned or occupied by that person; (b) burn any noxious, explosive, corrosive, or toxic material, pesticide or herbicide in an outdoor fire; (c) burn, in an outdoor fire, material brought from another location; (d) light, ignite or start or allow or cause to be lighted, ignited or started, an outdoor fire without first obtaining a permit if required by this By-law; or (e) start or maintain an outdoor fire unless the ventilation index is forecast as "good". OUTDOOR FIRE REGULATION Outdoor Fires Without Permit 6. The following types of outdoor fires may be started and maintained at any time without a permit: (a) cooking fires fueled by gas, briquettes, propane or electricity and burning in either a manufactured barbecue or contained within a permanent barbecue structure with a built-in grill; (b) fires started and maintained by the Maple Ridge Fire Department for training purposes or to prevent the commencement or spreading of fire; and (c) cooking fires or campfires at: (i) the Girl Guides of Canada property located at 26521 Ferguson Avenue; (ii) the Scouts Canada property located at 273rd Street and Dewdney Trunk Road; (iii) the Yennadon Youth Hall property located at 23461 - 132nd Avenue; (iv) any park owned or operated by the District or the Greater Vancouver Regional District where posted signs permit such fires in designated pits or grills. By-law No. 5535-1997 Page 4 6363-2005 LAND CLEARING FIRE Deleted in its entirety AGRICULTURAL FIRE 7. Area A written permit for an Agricultural Fire may only be issued if the fire is within the area marked "Area Open to Burning" which is outlined in heavy black ink on the map attached hereto as Schedule "A". 8. Permit A person shall not start or maintain an Agricultural Fire unless an Agricultural Fire Permit has been issued in the form attached hereto as Schedule "C", or to like effect. 9. Terms An Agricultural Fire Permit is valid for not more than two weeks and shall cost Twenty-five Dollars ($25.00), payable to the District. 10. Regulations No person shall start or maintain an Agricultural Fire: (a) within one hundred (100) metres of a residential building or business; (b) within five hundred (500) metres of a school or hospital; (c) unless a person nineteen (19) years of age or older is, at all times, present at the Agricultural Fire and until the fire is totally extinguished, for the purposes of supervising and extinguishing the fire; (d) more than fifteen (15) days have elapsed between the termination of any previous burning permit issued pursuant to this By-law or pursuant to the requirements of Open Burning Smoke Control Regulation and Code of Practice; (e) unless there is emergency equipment on the property where the burning is taking place which is capable of extinguishing the fire; and (f) except during daylight hours only. By-law No. 5535-1997 Page 5 BACKYARD FIRE 11. Area A written permit for a Backyard Fire may only be issued if the fire is within the area marked "Area Open to Burning" which is outlined in heavy black ink on the map attached hereto as Schedule "A". 12. Permit A person shall not start or maintain a Backyard Fire unless a Backyard Fire Permit has been issued by the Issuer in the form attached hereto as Schedule "D", or to like effect. 13. Terms A Backyard Fire Permit is valid for the period of April 15th to May 15th or for the period of October 15th to November 15th and costs Twenty-five Dollars ($25.00), payable to the District. 14. Regulations No person shall start or maintain a Backyard Fire (a) within fifteen (15) metres of any building, structure, overhead wires or cables; (b) unless a person nineteen (19) years of age or older is, at all times, present at the Backyard Fire and until the fire is totally extinguished, for the purposes of supervising and extinguishing the fire; (c) unless a water hose connected to an available water supply sufficient in quantity to control the spread of fire, and/or a shovel, or other fire fighting tools or implements are present for the duration of the fire and until it is extinguished; and (d) except during daylight hours only. By-law No. 5535-1997 Page 6 RECREATIONAL FIRE 15. Area Recreational Fires are only allowed within the area marked "Area Open to Burning" which is outlined in heavy black ink on the map attached hereto as Schedule "A". 16. Regulations No person shall start or maintain a Recreational Fire (a) within fifteen (15) metres of any building, structure, overhead wires or cables; (b) unless a person nineteen (19) years of age or older is, at all times, present at the recreational fire and until the fire is totally extinguished, for the purposes of supervising and extinguishing the fire; (c) unless a water hose, connected to an available water supply and shovel is present for the duration of the fire and until it is extinguished. OTHER LEGISLATION 17. In addition to the requirements of this By-law, all burning must meet the requirements of the Waste Management Act, R.S.B.C. 1996 Chp.482 and the Open Burning Smoke Control Regulation and Code of Practice, as administered by the Greater Vancouver Regional District. INSPECTIONS AND ORDERS 18. The Fire Chief may (a) enter at all reasonable times on any property that is subject to the requirements or regulations of this By-law, to ascertain whether the regulations in this By-law or directions made under this By-law are in compliance; (b) make orders directing the owners or occupiers of property to bring the fire into compliance with this By-law; (c) call on the Greater Vancouver Regional District if a person is burning waste in contravention of the Waste Management Act; (d) order that the fire be immediately extinguished because of a contravention of this By-law. By-law No. 5535-1997 Page 7 DISCRETIONARY CLOSURE 19. If at any time the Fire Chief on account of the existence of hazardous conditions, inclusive of meteorological or ambient air quality conditions, site conditions and availability of Fire Department personnel to extinguish the fire, deems it advisable, he/she may suspend for such time as it is necessary or cancel any right to burn granted pursuant to the By-law including all or any permits issued pursuant to this By-law or he/she may attach to any or all such permits such conditions and restrictions as deemed proper. DISCRETIONARY BURNING WEEKEND 20. Notwithstanding any other section of this By-law, Council may pass a resolution setting out the day, time, area and cost for Backyard Fires which will be allowed due to a windstorm creating unusual amounts of branches and other plant debris outside of the permitted periods set out in section 13 herein. GENERAL PROVISIONS Severability 21. If any section, subsection or clause of this By-law is held invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, the invalid portion shall be severed and the remainder of this By-law shall be deemed to have been adopted without the invalid and severed section, subsection or clause. Schedules 22. Schedules "A", "C" and "D" attached hereto form a part of, and are enforceable in the same manner as this By-law. Offences 23. Any person who contravenes or violates any of the provisions of this by-law or who suffers or permits any act or things to be done in contravention or in violation of any of the provisions of this by-law or who neglects to do or refrains from doing anything required to be done by any of the provisions of this by-law commits an offence and, upon summary conviction therefore, shall be liable to a fine of not less than $500.00 and not more than the maximum fine provided by the Offence Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, Chp.338 and, where the offence is a continuing one, each day that the offence is continued shall constitute a separate offence. By-law No. 5535-1997 Page 8 READ a FIRST TIME on the 25th day of March,1997. READ a SECOND TIME on the 17th day of June, 1997. READ a THIRD TIME on the 17th day of June, 1997. RECONSIDERED AND ADOPTED the 24th day of June, 1997. ________________________________ Mayor - ________________________________ Clerk - By-law No. 5535-1997 Page 9 By-law No. 5535-1997 Page 10 6363-2005 SCHEDULE "B" Deleted in its entirety By-law No. 5535-1997 Page 11 SCHEDULE 'C' Maple Ridge Outdoor Burning Regulation By-law No. 5535-1997 AGRICULTURAL FIRE Permit Fee: Agricultural Fire $25.00 G.S.T. No. R106984271 (G.S.T. Exempt) License No.___________ Applicant's Name______________________________________________________ Address where fire will occur_________________________________________________ Business Phone Number _________________Home Phone Number_______________ (no answering machines please) If the Applicant is not the Registered Owner of the property where the fire will occur, please complete: Name of Registered Owner________________________________________________ Address________________________________________________________________ City, Province & Postal Code______________________________________________ Business Phone Number______________ Home Phone Number________________ (no answering machines please) I, the applicant, hereby confirm that I have read and understand the conditions set out on the reverse side of this permit and that I will carry out a Agricultural Fire in accordance with them, as well as the terms and conditions of Maple Ridge Outdoor Burning Regulation By- law No. 5535-1997. _____________________________________ Signature of Applicant Dated this ____ day of , 199 _. Signature of Fire Chief authorizing this permit _________________________________________________ Validated by Cash Register authorizing an Agricultural Fire from ___ day of ______. 199_ to ___ day of ________. By-law No. 5535-1997 Page 12 Reverse Side of Agricultural Fire: CONDITIONS OF AGRICULTURAL FIRE PERMIT - Read Carefully! 1. The applicant accepts all responsibility, costs, damages and claims arising out of this permit or any fire started under this permit. 2. No applicant shall burn (a) within one hundred (100) metres of a residential building or structure; (b) within five hundred (500) metres of a school or hospital; (c) unless a person nineteen (19) years of age or older is, at all times, present at the fire and until the fire is totally extinguished, for the purposes of supervising and extinguishing the fire; and (d) unless there is emergency equipment on the property where the burning is taking place which is capable of extinguishing the fire. 3. The applicant shall not, on or in any fire, burn any material that is not indigenous to the property on which it is burned or any material that is noxious, explosive, corrosive, or toxic or any pesticide or herbicide. 4. The Fire Chief may revoke this permit if, in his/her opinion, weather conditions are such as to render the lighting of fires in open air hazardous or the ventilation index is less than "good". 5. The applicant agrees to abide by all municipal, provincial and federal legislation, including Maple Ridge Fire Prevention By-law No.4111-1988 and Maple Ridge Outdoor Burning Regulation By-law No.5535-1997. By-law No. 5535-1997 Page 13 SCHEDULE 'D' Maple Ridge Outdoor Burning Regulation By-law No. 5535-1997 License No: BACKYARD FIRE PERMIT Permit Fee: Backyard Fire $25.00 G.S.T. No. R106984271 (G.S.T. Exempt) Applicant's Name______________________________________________________ Address where fire will occur_________________________________________________ Business Phone Number _________________Home Phone Number_______________ (no answering machines please) Authority is hereby granted to _______________________________("Applicant") Address________________________________________ Phone____________ to have a Backyard Fire upon the following described lands_________________ ________________________________________________________________ during the period of ________________19___ , to _____________19___ subject to the provisions of Maple Ridge Fire Prevention By-law No. 4111-1988 and Maple Ridge Outdoor Burning Regulation By-law No. 5535-1997, as well as those conditions set out on the reverse side of this permit. I hereby confirm that I have read and understand Maple Ridge Outdoor Burning Regulation By-law No. 5535 -1997 and the conditions on the reverse side of this permit. I confirm that I will carry out a Backyard Fire in accordance with these conditions. Signature of Applicant _________________________ Signature of Issuer____________________________ __________________________________________________________________ Validated by Cash Register By-law No. 5535-1997 Page 14 Reverse Side of Backyard Fire Permit: SUMMARY OF OUTDOOR BURNING REGULATION BY-LAW NO. 5535-1997 AS IT RELATES TO BACKYARD FIRES: Read Carefully! 1. The applicant is liable for all damages and costs caused by any fire set under this permit. 2. The applicant may only burn during daylight hours and must extinguish all fires by sundown each day. 3. No applicant shall, on or in any fire, burn any material that is not dry garden refuse from the property on which it is burned. 4. No applicant shall start or maintain a Backyard Fire (a) within fifteen (15) metres of any building, structure, overhead wires or cables; (b) unless a person nineteen (19) years of age or older is, at all times, present at the Backyard Fire and until the fire is totally extinguished, for the purposes of supervising and extinguishing the fire; (c) unless a water hose, connected to an available water supply and shovel is present for the duration of the Backyard Fire and until it is extinguished; and (d) except during daylight hours. 5. No applicant shall burn any noxious, explosive, corrosive, or toxic material, pesticide or herbicide. 6. The Fire Chief may revoke this permit if, in his/her opinion, weather conditions are such as to render the lighting of fires in open air hazardous or the ventilation index is less than "good".