As of Monday, October 20, 2025 at noon, campfires and open burning are once again permitted in Lake Country and most parts of the Central Okanagan due to the recent rains and cooler weather.
The campfire ban within local government fire jurisdictions in the Central Okanagan has been in place since August 28. With appropriate safety precautions to prevent the spread of fire, campfires are once again allowed within the Regional District of Central Okanagan fire protection areas. A note: campfires are not permitted at any time within the City of Kelowna.
If you are having a campfire, please:
- Keep it attended at all times
- Have tools and water on hand to contain the fire
- Fully extinguish the fire before leaving
Open Burning Permits
Restrictions for open burning in the Central Okanagan will also be lifted and permits will be available for eligible property owners from the Lake Country Fire Department. Permits holders can burn outdoors on days when both air quality and venting indices are good and must be completed by April 30, or unless conditions change.
Before lighting any fire, Central Okanagan permit holders can call the toll-free Outdoor Burning Hotline at 1-855-262-2876 (BURN) to confirm that burning is permitted on that day. Additionally, each morning an online outdoor burning indicator is updated at rdco.com/airquality.
Those with a permit must also meet the Provincial Open Burning Smoke Control Regulation.
A reminder for anyone receiving an open burning permit that under the Regional District Smoke Control Bylaw, nuisance smoke from open burning is not allowed. Yard waste such as leaves, pine needles, grass clippings, weeds and other garden waste are not allowed to be burned. Violators could receive a fine or be charged with the cost of putting out the fire.
Residents are encouraged to report anyone illegally burning on a non-burning day by calling the Regional Fire Dispatch Center at 250-469-8577.
To apply for a Regular or Class Farm open burn permit, please apply online:
Burning Permit | District of Lake Country
To read the original news release published by the Regional District of the Central Okanagan, please visit:
https://www.rdco.com/en/news/ban-on-open-burning-and-campfires-ends-for-the-central-okanagan.aspx