Backyard fires in Whitby
Whether a backyard fire or fire pit is allowed in Whitby, Ontario, the permit rule, coverage level, and how to check today's fire ban.
Whitby prohibits recreational wood fires on typical residential lots. Chimineas, fire bowls and backyard campfires are all banned under the town's Fires By-law; the only permits the town issues are for rural residential and agricultural brush burning, not for backyard recreational fires.
Municipal ruleAlso covers Brooklin.
Gas 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
Since recreational wood fires are banned outright rather than permitted seasonally, there's no burn-ban notice to watch for on that front; watch whitby.ca instead for any changes to rural/agricultural permit suspensions during dry periods. Whitby is in southern Ontario, outside the province's northern Restricted Fire Zone area.
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.
Whitby backyard fire questions
Can I have a backyard fire in Whitby?
Whitby prohibits recreational wood fires on typical residential lots. Chimineas, fire bowls and backyard campfires are all banned under the town's Fires By-law; the only permits the town issues are for rural residential and agricultural brush burning, not for backyard recreational fires. Source: Town of Whitby, Outdoor Burning, last checked 2026-07-02.
Are gas or propane fire pits allowed in Whitby?
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 Whitby today?
Since recreational wood fires are banned outright rather than permitted seasonally, there's no burn-ban notice to watch for on that front; watch whitby.ca instead for any changes to rural/agricultural permit suspensions during dry periods. Whitby is in southern Ontario, outside the province's northern Restricted Fire Zone area. 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 Whitby?
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 Whitby's by-law any time of year.
What happens if I have a fire during a ban in Whitby?
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 Whitby, Outdoor Burning, last checked 2026-07-02. Propane or gas barbecues, grills and TSSA-approved outdoor gas fireplaces are allowed without a permit; a rural residential or agricultural fire permit for brush costs $94.92 and expires after four months or at year-end.
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: Clarington, Ajax, Brock, Scugog. Or see every municipality.