Backyard fires in St. Clair
Whether a backyard fire or fire pit is allowed in St. Clair, Ontario, the permit rule, coverage level, and how to check today's fire ban.
St. Clair Township regulates open-air burning under Bylaw 55 of 2017. Smaller recreational bonfires measuring 61 cm by 61 cm do not require a permit if they meet bylaw requirements. Brush burning is prohibited in urban areas and requires an open-air burn permit in rural areas. Permits are valid for four days and can be obtained online, in person, or by phone.
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
Residents must check weather and environmental conditions before burning; burning may be prohibited during unsafe conditions or local burn bans.
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 St. Clair
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.
St. Clair backyard fire questions
Can I have a backyard fire in St. Clair?
St. Clair Township regulates open-air burning under Bylaw 55 of 2017. Smaller recreational bonfires measuring 61 cm by 61 cm do not require a permit if they meet bylaw requirements. Brush burning is prohibited in urban areas and requires an open-air burn permit in rural areas. Permits are valid for four days and can be obtained online, in person, or by phone. Source: St. Clair Township - Open Air Burning and Burn Permits, last checked 2026-07-02.
Are gas or propane fire pits allowed in St. Clair?
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 St. Clair today?
Residents must check weather and environmental conditions before burning; burning may be prohibited during unsafe conditions or local burn bans. 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 St. Clair?
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 St. Clair's by-law any time of year.
What happens if I have a fire during a ban in St. Clair?
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 St. Clair Township - Open Air Burning and Burn Permits, last checked 2026-07-02. Permits can be obtained online through Community Connect, in person at 392 Lyndoch Street in Corunna, or by calling 519-481-0111.
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: Brooke-Alvinston, Petrolia, Plympton-Wyoming, Sarnia. Or see every municipality.