Backyard fires in Tay
Whether a backyard fire or fire pit is allowed in Tay, Ontario, the permit rule, coverage level, and how to check today's fire ban.
Tay Township requires property owners to obtain a fire permit before proceeding with any outdoor fires. Permits cost $20 and are valid for one year from the purchase date. Open-air burning must be confined to a fire pit or device with a burn area no larger than one cubic metre, kept at least 20 feet from combustible structures, and is not allowed between 2 a.m. and 8 a.m., in winds over 20 km/h, or during rain.
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
No fires are permitted when a fire ban is in effect.
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 Tay
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.
Tay backyard fire questions
Can I have a backyard fire in Tay?
Tay Township requires property owners to obtain a fire permit before proceeding with any outdoor fires. Permits cost $20 and are valid for one year from the purchase date. Open-air burning must be confined to a fire pit or device with a burn area no larger than one cubic metre, kept at least 20 feet from combustible structures, and is not allowed between 2 a.m. and 8 a.m., in winds over 20 km/h, or during rain. Source: Tay Township - Fire Permits, last checked 2026-07-02.
Are gas or propane fire pits allowed in Tay?
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 Tay today?
No fires are permitted when a fire ban is in effect. 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 Tay?
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 Tay's by-law any time of year.
What happens if I have a fire during a ban in Tay?
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 Tay Township - Fire Permits, last checked 2026-07-02. Online purchase is encouraged but permits can still be obtained in person at the Municipal Office during regular business hours Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
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: Innisfil, Orillia, Ramara, Wasaga Beach. Or see every municipality.