Backyard fires in North Dumfries
Whether a backyard fire or fire pit is allowed in North Dumfries, Ontario, the permit rule, coverage level, and how to check today's fire ban.
The Township of North Dumfries requires a Fire Permit for all open-air burning except recreational burns. Recreational burns in an approved ring or device do not require a permit but must use only clean brush, logs, branches or manufactured fireplace logs, be no larger than 1 metre in any direction, kept 5 metres from buildings, structures, property lines, trees, hedges, fences, roadways and overhead wires, and supervised by someone at least 18 years old. Open-air burning is prohibited between 8 p.m. and 8 a.m.
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 Fire Chief, Chief Administrative Officer or a Municipal Law Enforcement Officer may issue a fire ban; notice is given by media advisory and posting on the township website. North Dumfries is outside the provincial legislated fire region, so municipal bans are the local restriction to watch.
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 North Dumfries
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.
North Dumfries backyard fire questions
Can I have a backyard fire in North Dumfries?
The Township of North Dumfries requires a Fire Permit for all open-air burning except recreational burns. Recreational burns in an approved ring or device do not require a permit but must use only clean brush, logs, branches or manufactured fireplace logs, be no larger than 1 metre in any direction, kept 5 metres from buildings, structures, property lines, trees, hedges, fences, roadways and overhead wires, and supervised by someone at least 18 years old. Open-air burning is prohibited between 8 p.m. and 8 a.m. Source: Township of North Dumfries, By-law No. 3542-25, last checked 2026-07-02.
Are gas or propane fire pits allowed in North Dumfries?
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 North Dumfries today?
The Fire Chief, Chief Administrative Officer or a Municipal Law Enforcement Officer may issue a fire ban; notice is given by media advisory and posting on the township website. North Dumfries is outside the provincial legislated fire region, so municipal bans are the local restriction to watch. 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 North Dumfries?
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 North Dumfries's by-law any time of year.
What happens if I have a fire during a ban in North Dumfries?
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 Township of North Dumfries, By-law No. 3542-25, last checked 2026-07-02. Permit applications must be made in writing by a person at least 18 years old who lives on or owns the property; call fire dispatch before starting and after extinguishing the burn.
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: Cambridge, Wellesley, Wilmot, Woolwich. Or see every municipality.