Backyard fires in Bayham
Whether a backyard fire or fire pit is allowed in Bayham, Ontario, the permit rule, coverage level, and how to check today's fire ban.
Bayham issues burn permits for rural areas only; cooking fires and campfires are exempt. The $50 annual permit is obtained through the Municipal Office, and permit holders must call the fire department before starting and after finishing the burn. All fires must be attended by a responsible person, kept away from combustibles, and comply with any smog advisory or fire ban.
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
All fires must comply with any smog advisory or fire ban; notices are posted on the municipal website.
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 Bayham
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.
Bayham backyard fire questions
Can I have a backyard fire in Bayham?
Bayham issues burn permits for rural areas only; cooking fires and campfires are exempt. The $50 annual permit is obtained through the Municipal Office, and permit holders must call the fire department before starting and after finishing the burn. All fires must be attended by a responsible person, kept away from combustibles, and comply with any smog advisory or fire ban. Source: Municipality of Bayham - Burn Permits, last checked 2026-07-02.
Are gas or propane fire pits allowed in Bayham?
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 Bayham today?
All fires must comply with any smog advisory or fire ban; notices are posted on the municipal website. 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 Bayham?
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 Bayham's by-law any time of year.
What happens if I have a fire during a ban in Bayham?
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 Municipality of Bayham - Burn Permits, last checked 2026-07-02. The $50 annual burn permit for rural areas is obtained through the Municipal Office, and permit holders must call the fire department before starting and after finishing the burn.
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: Aylmer, Central Elgin, Dutton/Dunwich, Malahide. Or see every municipality.