Backyard fires in Clarington
Whether a backyard fire or fire pit is allowed in Clarington, Ontario, the permit rule, coverage level, and how to check today's fire ban.
Clarington does not require a permit for a small recreational fire as long as you meet the rules in the current Open Air Burning By-law: the fire has to be in an enclosed outdoor fireplace no bigger than 1m x 1m x 1m, kept at least 7.5 metres from your property line, fence, structures, trees and anything else combustible, and only dry seasoned wood logs burned between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. If your lot cannot meet that 7.5 metre clearance, no fire pit or wood fire is allowed at all, only a propane or natural gas appliance. Separately, larger burns (brush piles) need a paid permit and 4+ acres.
Municipal ruleAlso covers Bowmanville, Courtice, Newcastle.
Gas 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
Clarington issues and lifts burn bans through Emergency and Fire Services and posts them on the municipal news page; no open-air burning of any kind is allowed while a ban is active. Clarington is in southern Ontario, outside the province's Restricted Fire Zone.
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 Clarington
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.
Clarington backyard fire questions
Can I have a backyard fire in Clarington?
Clarington does not require a permit for a small recreational fire as long as you meet the rules in the current Open Air Burning By-law: the fire has to be in an enclosed outdoor fireplace no bigger than 1m x 1m x 1m, kept at least 7.5 metres from your property line, fence, structures, trees and anything else combustible, and only dry seasoned wood logs burned between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. If your lot cannot meet that 7.5 metre clearance, no fire pit or wood fire is allowed at all, only a propane or natural gas appliance. Separately, larger burns (brush piles) need a paid permit and 4+ acres. Source: Municipality of Clarington, Open Air Burning and Burning Permits, last checked 2026-07-02.
Are gas or propane fire pits allowed in Clarington?
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 Clarington today?
Clarington issues and lifts burn bans through Emergency and Fire Services and posts them on the municipal news page; no open-air burning of any kind is allowed while a ban is active. Clarington is in southern Ontario, outside the province's Restricted Fire Zone. 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 Clarington?
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 Clarington's by-law any time of year.
What happens if I have a fire during a ban in Clarington?
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 Clarington, Open Air Burning and Burning Permits, last checked 2026-07-02. There's no permit application for a compliant small recreational fire, you just have to self-certify the setback and hours; pile-burning permits are handled through Clarington's fire prevention office.
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: Ajax, Brock, Scugog, Uxbridge. Or see every municipality.