Backyard fires in Saugeen Shores
Whether a backyard fire or fire pit is allowed in Saugeen Shores, Ontario, the permit rule, coverage level, and how to check today's fire ban.
Recreational fires in an approved non-combustible device up to 1 cubic metre do not need a permit in Saugeen Shores, but must burn only clean dry wood or charcoal, keep a 3 m clearance to structures and property lines, and be supervised by an adult until fully extinguished. All other open-air burning in rural areas requires an annual burn permit, with burning only between sunrise and sunset, piles kept 15 m from buildings and combustibles, and the fire department called at 519-389-6120 before each burn to activate the permit.
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 Department can cancel permits and order fires extinguished during bans; check the town website or call the fire department for current status. Saugeen Shores is outside the northern/central Ontario fire region, so municipal fire bans are the main local restriction.
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 Saugeen Shores
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.
Saugeen Shores backyard fire questions
Can I have a backyard fire in Saugeen Shores?
Recreational fires in an approved non-combustible device up to 1 cubic metre do not need a permit in Saugeen Shores, but must burn only clean dry wood or charcoal, keep a 3 m clearance to structures and property lines, and be supervised by an adult until fully extinguished. All other open-air burning in rural areas requires an annual burn permit, with burning only between sunrise and sunset, piles kept 15 m from buildings and combustibles, and the fire department called at 519-389-6120 before each burn to activate the permit. Source: Town of Saugeen Shores, Burn Permits, last checked 2026-07-02.
Are gas or propane fire pits allowed in Saugeen Shores?
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 Saugeen Shores today?
The Fire Department can cancel permits and order fires extinguished during bans; check the town website or call the fire department for current status. Saugeen Shores is outside the northern/central Ontario fire region, so municipal fire bans are the main local restriction. 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 Saugeen Shores?
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 Saugeen Shores's by-law any time of year.
What happens if I have a fire during a ban in Saugeen Shores?
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 Town of Saugeen Shores, Burn Permits, last checked 2026-07-02. Annual burn permits expire on December 31 and take at least 48 hours to process.
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: Brockton, Huron-Kinloss, South Bruce, South Bruce Peninsula. Or see every municipality.