Bylaws, Permits & Regulations

Fire Codes and Bylaws

Fireworks

Section 26 of the Fire Protection Bylaw for Fireworks regulations:

26.1 No person shall, at any time, offer for sale or sell Low Hazard Fireworks anywhere within the City. Low Hazard Fireworks may be possessed and set off within the City only in accordance with the following restrictions and requirements: 

  • 26.1.1 Low Hazard Fireworks may be possessed only within that time period commencing at 12:01 a.m. on the 28th day of October and ending at 12.01 a.m. on the 1st day of November and Low Hazard Fireworks may be set off only within that time period commencing at 4:00 pm on the 31st of October and ending at 12:01 a.m. on the 1st day of November. 
  • 26.1.2 No person under the age of 18 years may possess or set off Low Hazard Fireworks. 
  • 26.1.3 Low Hazard Fireworks shall be set off only on private property with the consent of the owner being first obtained, where necessary, or on public property with the written permission of the Director of Fire and Rescue Services. 
  • 26.1.4 No person shall use, set off or discharge roman candles. 
  • 26.1.5 No person shall point or direct a firework at any person, animal, building or motor vehicle where such firework is in the process of exploding or detonating, and where it is capable of projecting or discharging a charge or pyrotechnical effect for a distance of more than three feet. 

26.2 No person shall at any time, possess or set off High Hazard Fireworks unless that person has first obtained a valid Special Permit from the Director of Fire and Rescue Services in the prescribed form.

26.3 Every person applying for a Special Permit to possess or set off High Hazard Fireworks must be the same person who will supervise the setting off of the High Hazard Fireworks and that person must also possess a valid Fireworks Supervisor Card issued by the Explosives Branch of Energy, Mines and Resources, Canada. 

26.4 No person shall offer for sale, sell, give or trade any High Hazard Fireworks to any person other than a person presenting a valid Special Permit issued by the Director of Fire and Rescue Services. 

26.5 No person shall store or display for sale any type of fireworks regulated by this Bylaw except in accordance with the Federal Explosive Regulations under the Explosives Act. 

26.6 Every person obtaining a site inspection for the use of any High Hazard Fireworks, special effects or movie/tv pyrotechnics, shall pay the applicable fee prescribed in Schedule “A” to this Bylaw.

Outdoor Burning

Open burning of yard waste, construction materials or garbage is a potential fire hazard. It also impacts the air quality in our region. New Westminster prohibits the open air burning of any garden refuse, any and all waste material from construction sites or any land clearing materials. 

Section 25 of the Fire Protection Bylaw for Outdoor Burning and Camp Fires:

25.1 No person shall at any time start, light, ignite or burn, or knowingly permit or cause to be started, lighted, ignited or burn any fire of any kind whatsoever in the open air or in any portable incinerator or other portable appliance or device whatsoever in the open air, except where such fire is contained within a portable appliance or device and is used solely for the cooking and preparation of food and is fueled by propane, natural gas or charcoal. 

25.2 The burning in the open air of garden refuse, in the nature of grass and other clippings, leaves, tree and shrub pruning, cuttings and light material, all waste material from construction sites or any land clearing materials is hereby prohibited. 

25.3 Where the Director of Fire and Rescue Services considers that conditions are safe, they may issue permits for camp fires within specified portions of the City. 

25.4 Notwithstanding any other provision of this bylaw, the New Westminster Fire and Rescue Services may burn buildings, structures, or other materials for the purpose of training its personnel in structural firefighting methods, fire investigation procedures or for the purpose of elimination of hazards.