Backyard fires in Southgate
Whether a backyard fire or fire pit is allowed in Southgate, Ontario, the permit rule, coverage level, and how to check today's fire ban.
Recreational fires in a fire pit, tire rim or similar device up to 1 metre in diameter do not require a permit and must be at least 3 metres from combustibles and property lines; only paper or kindling may be used to start the fire, and leaves or yard waste cannot be burned in urban areas. Open-air burns greater than 1 metre require an approved Burn Permit and are not normally issued in urban areas.
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 Chief Fire Official may declare a total burn ban at any time without notice, and any approved permits are automatically suspended until the ban is lifted; check the Township website for current status. Southgate is outside Ontario's provincial Restricted Fire Zone layer.
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 Southgate
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.
Southgate backyard fire questions
Can I have a backyard fire in Southgate?
Recreational fires in a fire pit, tire rim or similar device up to 1 metre in diameter do not require a permit and must be at least 3 metres from combustibles and property lines; only paper or kindling may be used to start the fire, and leaves or yard waste cannot be burned in urban areas. Open-air burns greater than 1 metre require an approved Burn Permit and are not normally issued in urban areas. Source: Township of Southgate, Burn Permits page (Burn By-law 2020-070, as amended), last checked 2026-07-02.
Are gas or propane fire pits allowed in Southgate?
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 Southgate today?
The Chief Fire Official may declare a total burn ban at any time without notice, and any approved permits are automatically suspended until the ban is lifted; check the Township website for current status. Southgate is outside Ontario's provincial Restricted Fire Zone layer. 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 Southgate?
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 Southgate's by-law any time of year.
What happens if I have a fire during a ban in Southgate?
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 Southgate, Burn Permits page (Burn By-law 2020-070, as amended), last checked 2026-07-02. Apply for larger open-air burn permits through the Township of Southgate Burn Permit portal; permits expire every 60 days.
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: Owen Sound, The Blue Mountains, Chatsworth, Georgian Bluffs. Or see every municipality.