Backyard fires in Toronto
Whether a backyard fire or fire pit is allowed in Toronto, Ontario, the permit rule, coverage level, and how to check today's fire ban.
Toronto does not permit open-air burning, and Toronto Fire does not issue permits for backyard bonfires or wood fire pits. A wood-burning fire pit in the yard is against the Ontario Fire Code as applied in the city.
Municipal ruleAlso covers Agincourt, Don Mills, Downsview, Etobicoke, Malvern, North York, Scarborough, Weston, Willowdale, York.
Gas versus wood
ULC or CSA approved gas or propane patio fire units are treated as approved appliances if supervised at all times and kept away from combustibles. Solid-fuel (wood) burning is not.
Today's fire ban
Because backyard burning is not allowed at all, there is no seasonal permit to suspend; the rule is year-round.
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.
Toronto backyard fire questions
Can I have a backyard fire in Toronto?
Toronto does not permit open-air burning, and Toronto Fire does not issue permits for backyard bonfires or wood fire pits. A wood-burning fire pit in the yard is against the Ontario Fire Code as applied in the city. Source: City of Toronto, last checked 2026-06-24.
Are gas or propane fire pits allowed in Toronto?
ULC or CSA approved gas or propane patio fire units are treated as approved appliances if supervised at all times and kept away from combustibles. Solid-fuel (wood) burning is not.
How do I know if there is a fire ban in Toronto today?
Because backyard burning is not allowed at all, there is no seasonal permit to suspend; the rule is year-round. 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 Toronto?
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 Toronto's by-law any time of year.
What happens if I have a fire during a ban in Toronto?
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 City of Toronto, last checked 2026-06-24. Selling a fire pit at a hardware store does not make it legal to burn wood in it in Toronto. Gas and propane units are the compliant route.
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: Addington Highlands, Adelaide-Metcalfe, Alberton, Alfred and Plantagenet. Or see every municipality.