Backyard fires in Newmarket
Whether a backyard fire or fire pit is allowed in Newmarket, Ontario, the permit rule, coverage level, and how to check today's fire ban.
Newmarket does not require a permit for a small backyard fire. Central York Fire Services (the shared fire department for Newmarket and Aurora) allows recreational fires under By-law 2009-64 as long as the fire stays under 0.75 metres across and 1 metre high (flame included), sits at least 4 metres from your house, lot line, trees, fences and other combustibles, and is contained in something like a fire pit, outdoor oven or chiminea.
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
Fires between 11 p.m. and 8 a.m. are never allowed, and CYFS can order a total fire ban for Newmarket and Aurora during dry stretches, announced on the town and CYFS websites and local news. Newmarket is in southern Ontario, outside the province's northern Restricted Fire Zone system, so provincial RFZ orders do not apply here.
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 Newmarket
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.
Newmarket backyard fire questions
Can I have a backyard fire in Newmarket?
Newmarket does not require a permit for a small backyard fire. Central York Fire Services (the shared fire department for Newmarket and Aurora) allows recreational fires under By-law 2009-64 as long as the fire stays under 0.75 metres across and 1 metre high (flame included), sits at least 4 metres from your house, lot line, trees, fences and other combustibles, and is contained in something like a fire pit, outdoor oven or chiminea. Source: Central York Fire Services (serving Newmarket), Fire-Related By-laws, last checked 2026-07-02.
Are gas or propane fire pits allowed in Newmarket?
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 Newmarket today?
Fires between 11 p.m. and 8 a.m. are never allowed, and CYFS can order a total fire ban for Newmarket and Aurora during dry stretches, announced on the town and CYFS websites and local news. Newmarket is in southern Ontario, outside the province's northern Restricted Fire Zone system, so provincial RFZ orders do not apply here. 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 Newmarket?
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 Newmarket's by-law any time of year.
What happens if I have a fire during a ban in Newmarket?
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 Central York Fire Services (serving Newmarket), Fire-Related By-laws, last checked 2026-07-02. No permit or fee is involved, but crews will put out a fire that breaks the rules and repeat offenders can be billed roughly $595 for the response.
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: Aurora, King, East Gwillimbury, Georgina. Or see every municipality.