Backyard fires in Cobourg
Whether a backyard fire or fire pit is allowed in Cobourg, Ontario, the permit rule, coverage level, and how to check today's fire ban.
Cobourg does not require a permit for a typical backyard recreational or camp-style fire. It just has to meet the bylaw's safety conditions: supervised by a responsible person at all times, kept small and under control, at least 3 metres from the nearest property line, shrub, or overhanging tree, and at least 10 metres from any building or combustible structure. Fire suppression equipment (a hose or extinguisher) must be on hand and the fire fully put out before you leave it.
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
Cobourg's fire chief can declare a total burn ban during dry or high-risk conditions (the town did this in August 2025 during a regional wildfire smoke event), which overrides the normal no-permit exemption until it's lifted. Bans are announced on cobourg.ca and the town's social media channels.
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 Cobourg
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.
Cobourg backyard fire questions
Can I have a backyard fire in Cobourg?
Cobourg does not require a permit for a typical backyard recreational or camp-style fire. It just has to meet the bylaw's safety conditions: supervised by a responsible person at all times, kept small and under control, at least 3 metres from the nearest property line, shrub, or overhanging tree, and at least 10 metres from any building or combustible structure. Fire suppression equipment (a hose or extinguisher) must be on hand and the fire fully put out before you leave it. Source: Town of Cobourg, By-law No. 058-2012 (Open Air Burning By-law), last checked 2026-07-02.
Are gas or propane fire pits allowed in Cobourg?
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 Cobourg today?
Cobourg's fire chief can declare a total burn ban during dry or high-risk conditions (the town did this in August 2025 during a regional wildfire smoke event), which overrides the normal no-permit exemption until it's lifted. Bans are announced on cobourg.ca and the town's social media channels. 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 Cobourg?
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 Cobourg's by-law any time of year.
What happens if I have a fire during a ban in Cobourg?
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 Town of Cobourg, By-law No. 058-2012 (Open Air Burning By-law), last checked 2026-07-02. The Cobourg Fire Department asks residents to call 905-372-9789 before lighting a recreational fire so dispatch knows it's intentional; burning prohibited debris (garbage, treated wood, tires, plastics) is banned outright regardless of permit status.
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: Alnwick/Haldimand, Brighton, Cramahe, Hamilton. Or see every municipality.