Backyard fires in Hamilton
Whether a backyard fire or fire pit is allowed in Hamilton, Ontario, the permit rule, coverage level, and how to check today's fire ban.
Open-air burning in Hamilton requires a permit, and a recreational campfire is allowed with one. A recreational fire must keep 3 m clearance to anything combustible and burn only clean, dry wood and brush. Permits are mainly for the rural parts of the city.
Municipal ruleAlso covers Ancaster, Dundas, Stoney Creek, Waterdown.
Gas versus wood
Gas and propane fire pits are allowed and do not need an open-air burn permit.
Today's fire ban
Hamilton can declare a burn ban; a permit does not override an active ban.
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 Hamilton
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.
Hamilton backyard fire questions
Can I have a backyard fire in Hamilton?
Open-air burning in Hamilton requires a permit, and a recreational campfire is allowed with one. A recreational fire must keep 3 m clearance to anything combustible and burn only clean, dry wood and brush. Permits are mainly for the rural parts of the city. Source: City of Hamilton, last checked 2026-06-24.
Are gas or propane fire pits allowed in Hamilton?
Gas and propane fire pits are allowed and do not need an open-air burn permit.
How do I know if there is a fire ban in Hamilton today?
Hamilton can declare a burn ban; a permit does not override an active ban. 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 Hamilton?
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 Hamilton's by-law any time of year.
What happens if I have a fire during a ban in Hamilton?
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 City of Hamilton, last checked 2026-06-24. Do not confuse the City of Hamilton with the separate Township of Hamilton near Cobourg, which has its own burning rules and dates.
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: Addington Highlands, Adelaide-Metcalfe, Alberton, Alfred and Plantagenet. Or see every municipality.