Backyard fires in Champlain
Whether a backyard fire or fire pit is allowed in Champlain, Ontario, the permit rule, coverage level, and how to check today's fire ban.
An open-air fire permit is required before burning any material under Fire Control By-law 2024-47. Small campfires up to 1 m (3 ft) in diameter and closed-container fires in a receptacle no larger than a 45-gallon drum are allowed without a permit. Permitted open-air fires must be at least 30 m from buildings or uncleared land, no more than 1 cubic metre, supervised by a mature person, burning only in daylight, and the fire dispatch must be called at 613-632-4111 before and after.
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
The municipality can cancel permits and issue fire bans during dry conditions; bans and updates are posted on the municipal website and social media.
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 Champlain
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.
Champlain backyard fire questions
Can I have a backyard fire in Champlain?
An open-air fire permit is required before burning any material under Fire Control By-law 2024-47. Small campfires up to 1 m (3 ft) in diameter and closed-container fires in a receptacle no larger than a 45-gallon drum are allowed without a permit. Permitted open-air fires must be at least 30 m from buildings or uncleared land, no more than 1 cubic metre, supervised by a mature person, burning only in daylight, and the fire dispatch must be called at 613-632-4111 before and after. Source: Township of Champlain, Fire Services, last checked 2026-07-02.
Are gas or propane fire pits allowed in Champlain?
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 Champlain today?
The municipality can cancel permits and issue fire bans during dry conditions; bans and updates are posted on the municipal website and social media. 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 Champlain?
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 Champlain's by-law any time of year.
What happens if I have a fire during a ban in Champlain?
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 Champlain, Fire Services, last checked 2026-07-02. Apply for an open-air fire permit through the township website or office; you must notify fire dispatch at 613-632-4111 before lighting the fire and again after it is extinguished.
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: Alfred and Plantagenet, East Hawkesbury, Russell, The Nation Municipality. Or see every municipality.