Backyard fires in Welland
Whether a backyard fire or fire pit is allowed in Welland, Ontario, the permit rule, coverage level, and how to check today's fire ban.
Welland lets you have a compliant backyard fire with no permit and no fee under By-law 2011-85, as long as you follow the rules for an exempt fire. Fires are only allowed from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. daily, the hearth area can be at most 66 cm wide with a fuel pile no taller than 66 cm, and the fire device must sit at least 3 metres from property lines and 5 metres below anything combustible, with a spark screen no wider than 6 mm openings. If you want a bigger fire than these limits allow, you need to apply to the fire department for a burning permit.
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
Welland can issue a complete ban on open air burning during high fire risk periods, as it did in past dry summers; watch for notices from the fire department and city news page. Welland is in the Niagara region of southern Ontario, outside the provincial Restricted Fire Zone that applies to northern and central fire regions.
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 Welland
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.
Welland backyard fire questions
Can I have a backyard fire in Welland?
Welland lets you have a compliant backyard fire with no permit and no fee under By-law 2011-85, as long as you follow the rules for an exempt fire. Fires are only allowed from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. daily, the hearth area can be at most 66 cm wide with a fuel pile no taller than 66 cm, and the fire device must sit at least 3 metres from property lines and 5 metres below anything combustible, with a spark screen no wider than 6 mm openings. If you want a bigger fire than these limits allow, you need to apply to the fire department for a burning permit. Source: City of Welland, Open-Air Fires, last checked 2026-07-02.
Are gas or propane fire pits allowed in Welland?
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 Welland today?
Welland can issue a complete ban on open air burning during high fire risk periods, as it did in past dry summers; watch for notices from the fire department and city news page. Welland is in the Niagara region of southern Ontario, outside the provincial Restricted Fire Zone that applies to northern and central fire regions. 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 Welland?
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 Welland's by-law any time of year.
What happens if I have a fire during a ban in Welland?
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 Welland, Open-Air Fires, last checked 2026-07-02. Questions on compliant fire setups go to the Planning and Building Division at 905-735-1700 extension 2251 or 2257, and by-law officers can order a non-compliant fire put out on the spot.
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: Fort Erie, Port Colborne, St. Catharines, Grimsby. Or see every municipality.