Metro Vancouver conducted two phases of engagement on this initiative between November 2019 and February 2022. We heard from affected and interested audiences about their concerns and feedback, which were considered in the development of the regulatory proposals. Detailed summaries for both engagement phases are available in the reports to the Climate Action Committee.
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Impacts on Air Quality
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 proposed regulation is intended to provide 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. Metro Vancouver currently authorizes emissions from open‑air burning of vegetative debris through site‑specific, short-term approvals. The region currently does not have an emission regulation for open-air burning. A new emission regulation for the Metro Vancouver region can set equivalent requirements to the provincial
Open Burning Smoke Control Regulation that was amended in September 2019, or be more restrictive, but cannot be less restrictive.
Summary of Proposed Requirements
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Registration
What is involved?
- Register site address or renew registration at any time in a calendar year.
- Pay applicable fee.
What do the proposed requirements apply to?
Open-air burning of clean, seasoned vegetative debris generated on-site within 5 km of the fire, except
- fires that are less than 0.6 m in height and less than 0.75 m for the largest horizontal dimension,
- concurrent burning of three or more piles each not larger than 2 m in height and 3 m for the largest horizontal dimension,
- burning of piles larger than 2 m in height and 3 m for the largest horizontal dimension, and
- burning debris from dry land sorts. or Burning that uses air curtain technology.
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Before burning
What is involved?
- Locate burn pile to meet distance requirements.
- Only burn if Metro Vancouver Open Burning Advisory message indicates it is okay to start or continue a burn.
- Notify neighbours and Metro Vancouver.
What do the proposed requirements apply to?
- No burning within 50 m of residences and businesses and 100 m of hospitals, schools, and community care facilities. Only burning of diseased vegetative debris or for community wildfire risk reduction between 50 m and 100 m from residences and businesses, and between 100 m and 500 m from hospitals, schools, and community care facilities. Burning according to varying levels of restrictions within defined distances from residences, businesses, hospitals, schools, and community care facilities.
- All burns done under proposed regulation.
-
Burn initiation
What is involved?
- Start burning only within defined hours.
- Limit burning to no more than 12 days per year and 6 days per month.
- Comply with burn bans and municipal and fire department regulations.
What do the proposed requirements apply to?
All burns done under proposed regulation.
-
After burning
What is involved?
Keep records for one year.
What do the proposed requirements apply to?
All burns done under proposed regulation.
A comparison of the requirements of the BC Open Burning Smoke Control Regulation and the proposed requirements for a Metro Vancouver open-air burning emission regulation is available in the
discussion paper.
