Backyard fires in Hastings Highlands
Whether a backyard fire or fire pit is allowed in Hastings Highlands, Ontario, the permit rule, coverage level, and how to check today's fire ban.
Hastings Highlands allows open-air burning with seasonal time restrictions. From April 1 to October 31 only night burning is permitted, with fires ignited at 7 p.m. or later and extinguished by 7 a.m.; from November 1 to March 31 day and night burning is allowed. Small campfires for cooking and warmth may be no larger than 2 feet by 2 feet and must be at least 5 metres from combustible materials.
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 Chief Fire Official can declare a total fire ban that prohibits all open-air fires including campfires. Hastings Highlands is in the Bancroft-Haliburton area and provincial Restricted Fire Zone declarations also apply.
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 Hastings Highlands
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.
Hastings Highlands backyard fire questions
Can I have a backyard fire in Hastings Highlands?
Hastings Highlands allows open-air burning with seasonal time restrictions. From April 1 to October 31 only night burning is permitted, with fires ignited at 7 p.m. or later and extinguished by 7 a.m.; from November 1 to March 31 day and night burning is allowed. Small campfires for cooking and warmth may be no larger than 2 feet by 2 feet and must be at least 5 metres from combustible materials. Source: Municipality of Hastings Highlands, Fire Bans, Restrictions and Guidelines, last checked 2026-07-02.
Are gas or propane fire pits allowed in Hastings Highlands?
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 Hastings Highlands today?
The Chief Fire Official can declare a total fire ban that prohibits all open-air fires including campfires. Hastings Highlands is in the Bancroft-Haliburton area and provincial Restricted Fire Zone declarations also apply. 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 Hastings Highlands?
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 Hastings Highlands's by-law any time of year.
What happens if I have a fire during a ban in Hastings Highlands?
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 Hastings Highlands, Fire Bans, Restrictions and Guidelines, last checked 2026-07-02. Open-Air Fire Bylaw 2020-047 governs burning; large brush and yard waste may be prohibited during dry conditions.
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: Bancroft, Centre Hastings, Limerick, Tudor and Cashel. Or see every municipality.