Backyard fires in Addington Highlands
Whether a backyard fire or fire pit is allowed in Addington Highlands, Ontario, the permit rule, coverage level, and how to check today's fire ban.
Addington Highlands allows campfires for cooking and warmth without a permit as long as they are no larger than 1 m in height and diameter, built on bare rock or mineral soil, and clear of vegetation or flammable material within 3 m. Between March 28 and October 31, no outdoor fires may be set from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. except for cooking and warmth. Brush piles must be under 2 m high and 2 m in diameter. Residents must not burn when relative humidity is below 60% or when it is windy, must avoid smoke nuisance, and must check for a fire ban before lighting any fire.
Municipal ruleGas versus wood
Gas and propane fire pits are treated separately from open-air wood burning and are the simplest option; placement rules and any active ban still apply.
Today's fire ban
A fire ban is a total ban on all fires including campfires, fireworks and some charcoal installations; residents must check for a ban before lighting any fire and obey orders to extinguish.
For the provincial layer, check Ontario's fire restrictions and the Forest Fire Information Map, which show Restricted Fire Zones across the fire region.
Two separate rules can stop a backyard fire in Ontario: a municipal fire ban, which any municipality can declare during a dry spell, and a provincial Restricted Fire Zone, declared only in the northern fire region. Either one overrides your normal permission, so check both before you light up.
Backyard fire safety in Addington Highlands
Where a recreational fire is allowed, these rules keep it legal and safe almost everywhere in Ontario:
- Burn only clean, dry, untreated firewood. Never garbage, leaves, brush, or treated or painted wood.
- Keep the fire small and contained in a pit, ring, or approved appliance, not a loose pile.
- Stay well back from buildings, fences, trees, decks, and the property line.
- Keep water or an extinguisher within reach, and never leave the fire unattended.
- Watch the wind. Skip it on dry, gusty days, and soak the ashes cold before you go inside.
- Never burn during a fire ban or Restricted Fire Zone, even if you usually could.
Addington Highlands backyard fire questions
Can I have a backyard fire in Addington Highlands?
Addington Highlands allows campfires for cooking and warmth without a permit as long as they are no larger than 1 m in height and diameter, built on bare rock or mineral soil, and clear of vegetation or flammable material within 3 m. Between March 28 and October 31, no outdoor fires may be set from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. except for cooking and warmth. Brush piles must be under 2 m high and 2 m in diameter. Residents must not burn when relative humidity is below 60% or when it is windy, must avoid smoke nuisance, and must check for a fire ban before lighting any fire. Source: Township of Addington Highlands - Emergency Services, last checked 2026-07-02.
Are gas or propane fire pits allowed in Addington Highlands?
Gas and propane fire pits are treated separately from open-air wood burning and are the simplest option; placement rules and any active ban still apply.
How do I know if there is a fire ban in Addington Highlands today?
A fire ban is a total ban on all fires including campfires, fireworks and some charcoal installations; residents must check for a ban before lighting any fire and obey orders to extinguish. For the provincial picture, check Ontario's fire restrictions page and the Forest Fire Information Map, which show Restricted Fire Zones in the fire region.
What can I burn in Addington Highlands?
Only clean, dry, untreated firewood for a recreational fire. Burning household garbage, leaves, brush, painted or treated wood, and construction debris is prohibited across Ontario, fire ban or not.
When is fire season in Ontario?
Ontario's official fire season runs April 1 to October 31. During it the province manages wildfire and can declare a Restricted Fire Zone in the northern fire region. Municipal open-air burning rules apply all year, so check Addington Highlands's by-law any time of year.
What happens if I have a fire during a ban in Addington Highlands?
Municipalities and the province can fine illegal open-air burning, and you can be billed for the cost of fighting any fire you start. If a ban or Restricted Fire Zone is in effect, do not burn, even if you hold a permit.
Source
From Township of Addington Highlands - Emergency Services, last checked 2026-07-02. Campfires for cooking and warmth must not exceed 1 m in height and diameter, must be built on bare rock or mineral soil, and must keep vegetation and flammable material at least 3 m away.
This is a plain-language summary, not the bylaw, and not legal advice. Open-air burning rules and bans change quickly, especially in dry weather. Always check your municipality's page and today's ban status before you light anything.
Other municipalities: Loyalist, Stone Mills, Greater Napanee, Lennox and Addington County. Or see every municipality.