Backyard fires in Selwyn
Whether a backyard fire or fire pit is allowed in Selwyn, Ontario, the permit rule, coverage level, and how to check today's fire ban.
Selwyn Township requires a $20 Open Air Burn Permit for any fire that is not a campfire or outdoor fireplace under By-law 2021-034. Campfires in a fire pit or fire container, and certified propane or natural gas TSSA-approved appliances, do not need a permit; burn barrels are prohibited, and open-air burning is banned in built-up areas including Lakefield, Bridgenorth, Ennismore, Young's Point and Woodland Acres.
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 can issue a burn ban that temporarily prohibits open-air burning in the Township; residents should verify current conditions by calling the Fire Department at 705-292-7282 or checking the Township website before lighting any fire.
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 Selwyn
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.
Selwyn backyard fire questions
Can I have a backyard fire in Selwyn?
Selwyn Township requires a $20 Open Air Burn Permit for any fire that is not a campfire or outdoor fireplace under By-law 2021-034. Campfires in a fire pit or fire container, and certified propane or natural gas TSSA-approved appliances, do not need a permit; burn barrels are prohibited, and open-air burning is banned in built-up areas including Lakefield, Bridgenorth, Ennismore, Young's Point and Woodland Acres. Source: Selwyn Township, Fire Department - Burn Permits, last checked 2026-07-02.
Are gas or propane fire pits allowed in Selwyn?
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 Selwyn today?
The Fire Chief can issue a burn ban that temporarily prohibits open-air burning in the Township; residents should verify current conditions by calling the Fire Department at 705-292-7282 or checking the Township website before lighting any fire. 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 Selwyn?
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 Selwyn's by-law any time of year.
What happens if I have a fire during a ban in Selwyn?
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 Selwyn Township, Fire Department - Burn Permits, last checked 2026-07-02. Permits are issued only by the Selwyn Fire Department at Hall 1, 833 Ward Street, Bridgenorth, payable by cash, cheque, debit or credit.
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, Otonabee-South Monaghan, Cavan Monaghan. Or see every municipality.