Regulations
Without regulation there is no basis for enforcing actions towards cleaner air. Whether it’s limiting burning on days with poor circulation, or getting people to stop idling their cars, both local and regional governments have several tools they can use to ensure that the air in their communities stays clean.
West Coast Environmental Law (WCEL) published a great Clean Air Bylaws Guide in 2006 – recommended starting point for getting your community on the track towards air quality.
How does your community stack up?
A 2011 inventory of air quality bylaws in BC was recently published by the Ministry of Environment, which lists bylaws in each community.
Province of BC
- A full list of Provincial Regulations Pertaining to Air Quality
- BC Open Burning Smoke Control Regulation
- B.C. Smoke Management Framework, which outlines and describes a cross-government approach to reduce human exposure to smoke from biomass burning (i.e. wood smoke).
Town of Gibsons
- Town of Gibsons Backyard Burning Bylaw No. 971 (2003)
- Town of Gibsons Anti-Idling Bylaw No. 1010 (2005)
- Town of Gibsons Fire Regulation Bylaw No. 660 (1993)
Bowen Island Municipality
- Bowen Island: Fire Prevention Bylaw No. 270, 2010
- Bowen Island Municipality Anti-Idling Bylaw No. 210 (2008)
Village of Lions Bay
District of Squamish
- District of Squamish Fire Service Bylaw No. 2040 (2008)
- District of Squamish Traffic Bylaw No. 779 (2010): includes Anti-Idling Regulation
Resort Municipality of Whistler
- Consolidated Parking and Traffic Bylaw No. 1512, 2001
- Cosmetic Pesticide Use Bylaw No. 1822, 2007
- Fire Protection and Fireworks Bylaw No. 1956, 2010
Village of Pemberton
- Pemberton Parking and Traffic Control Bylaw No. 586 (2006)
- Pemberton Building By-Law No. 518 (2003): regulates wood stove replacements
This short news piece, based in Port Alberni, discusses common issues and concerns associated with backyard burning.