Backyard fires in Otonabee-South Monaghan
Whether a backyard fire or fire pit is allowed in Otonabee-South Monaghan, Ontario, the permit rule, coverage level, and how to check today's fire ban.
Otonabee-South Monaghan requires a free burn permit for open-air or outdoor burning, but campfires and cooking fires do not need a permit if they follow By-Law 2022-50. Permits are valid for the calendar year, can be obtained online at osm.burnpermits.com, and only the property owner can apply. Burn barrels are not permitted, and fires must be at least 150 metres from any building.
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
Burn permits are suspended during fire bans; Otonabee-South Monaghan is in the Peterborough fire region 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 Otonabee-South Monaghan
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.
Otonabee-South Monaghan backyard fire questions
Can I have a backyard fire in Otonabee-South Monaghan?
Otonabee-South Monaghan requires a free burn permit for open-air or outdoor burning, but campfires and cooking fires do not need a permit if they follow By-Law 2022-50. Permits are valid for the calendar year, can be obtained online at osm.burnpermits.com, and only the property owner can apply. Burn barrels are not permitted, and fires must be at least 150 metres from any building. Source: Township of Otonabee-South Monaghan, Burn Permits, last checked 2026-07-02.
Are gas or propane fire pits allowed in Otonabee-South Monaghan?
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 Otonabee-South Monaghan today?
Burn permits are suspended during fire bans; Otonabee-South Monaghan is in the Peterborough fire region 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 Otonabee-South Monaghan?
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 Otonabee-South Monaghan's by-law any time of year.
What happens if I have a fire during a ban in Otonabee-South Monaghan?
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 Otonabee-South Monaghan, Burn Permits, last checked 2026-07-02. Only wood and wood by-products may be burned; contact the Fire Department Administration office at 705-295-6880 ext. 215 for help with the online system.
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: Asphodel-Norwood, Havelock-Belmont-Methuen, Cavan Monaghan, Douro-Dummer. Or see every municipality.