New Banff Bylaw Fines Homeowners for Fire Hazards

Banff homeowners could face fines for failing to reduce wildfire risks on their properties after council approved amendments to the town’s Community Standards Bylaw.

Council passed the changes March 10, formally defining “fire hazards” and making them subject to existing municipal penalties.

Under the updated rules, a fire hazard is defined as combustible materials located within 10 metres of a structure, including items such as firewood, dead trees, vegetation debris, wooden construction materials and grass exceeding 10 centimetres in height.

By adding fire hazards to the bylaw’s list of enforceable offences, council has made those conditions subject to penalties already in place for unsafe or unsightly properties. Violations carry a $150 fine, with an additional $100 charged for each day the offence continues after conviction.

As part of the amendments, council clarified that firewood can still be stored on a property if it is kept in a non-combustible structure, cover or bin. Additionally, an earlier proposal to relax restrictions on firewood storage by reducing the setback distance to 1.5 metres was defeated, with council maintaining the 10-metre standard tied to wildfire risk.

The changes are part of a broader effort by the Town of Banff to strengthen local wildfire legislation and better align it with national FireSmart principles, which emphasize reducing fuel sources around buildings to limit wildfire spread.

“One of the reasons behind these proposed changes is that it adheres to the FireSmart discipline of strengthening legislation,” said Katherine Severson, director of emergency management for the Town of Banff.

Council signalled enforcement would initially focus on education and voluntary compliance before penalties are issued.

​​“My impression is that the administration's intent is not to come down heavy-handed with the stick in terms of how they're going to enforce or apply this,” said Coun. David Fullerton. “There seems to be leniency in terms of finding some middle ground.”

The bylaw amendments follow growing concern about wildfire hazards in mountain communities and reflect a shift toward managing risks on individual properties, as FireSmart research shows homes are often ignited by embers and nearby fuels rather than direct flames from surrounding forests.

During the public hearing, some residents raised concerns about how the rules would apply in practice, particularly around the cost and feasibility of compliance.

“Will the Town of Banff provide a rebate for the non-flammable storage box for my firewood,” said resident Guy Ferrari in an email to council. “First the Town of Banff encourages us to gather free firewood from all the tree thinning projects in the townsite, and now it has to be more than 10 metres from my house.”

Despite those concerns, council moved forward with the changes, emphasizing the need for clearer rules and enforceable standards as wildfire risk increases.

By formally defining fire hazards and tying them to existing penalties, the town is shifting from encouraging mitigation to requiring it, placing greater responsibility on homeowners to manage risks around their properties.