Backyard fires in St. Marys
Whether a backyard fire or fire pit is allowed in St. Marys, Ontario, the permit rule, coverage level, and how to check today's fire ban.
St. Marys requires a $25 burn permit for any open fire, including backyard campfires and outdoor fireplaces. Residents can apply online or in person at the Municipal Operations Centre, and approval can take up to two business days. The Open Air Burning By-law regulates when, where and how fires may be set, and the Fire Chief has authority to issue orders to extinguish and to impose burn bans.
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 orders to extinguish fires and impose burn bans during unsafe conditions; notices are posted on the town website.
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. Marys
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. Marys backyard fire questions
Can I have a backyard fire in St. Marys?
St. Marys requires a $25 burn permit for any open fire, including backyard campfires and outdoor fireplaces. Residents can apply online or in person at the Municipal Operations Centre, and approval can take up to two business days. The Open Air Burning By-law regulates when, where and how fires may be set, and the Fire Chief has authority to issue orders to extinguish and to impose burn bans. Source: Town of St. Marys - Burn Permits, last checked 2026-07-02.
Are gas or propane fire pits allowed in St. Marys?
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. Marys today?
The Fire Chief can issue orders to extinguish fires and impose burn bans during unsafe conditions; notices are posted on the town website. 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. Marys?
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. Marys's by-law any time of year.
What happens if I have a fire during a ban in St. Marys?
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 St. Marys - Burn Permits, last checked 2026-07-02. The $25 permit fee can be paid online or in person by debit, cash or cheque at the Municipal Operations Centre at 408 James Street South.
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: North Perth, Perth East, Stratford, Perth South. Or see every municipality.