Open burning & fires across Nova Scotia
Can I have a backyard fire? Do I need a burn permit?
31 of 49 municipalities in Nova Scotia have an adopted bylaw on open burning & fires on file. Each row links the municipality's answer page and, where transcribed, the full text of the document.
| Municipality | Adopted document | Key facts | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amherst Town |
Fires and Burning of Materials By-Law C-07 | permit required: False · permit issuer: Fire Chief (special burning permit for situations not defined in by-law) · allowed conditions: Only recreational outdoor burning appliances allowed without permit; clean dry untreated wood; fire max 60 cm wide/45 cm high; 4.75 m from dwelling/property line; no burn if wind over 25 km/h or NSDNRR burn ban | 2026-06-05 |
| Annapolis Royal Town |
Outdoor Fire By-law 2023 | permit required: False · permit issuer: Fire Chief (only for training fires) · allowed conditions: Clean dry wood in acceptable fire pit/fireplace, >25 ft from buildings, spark arrestor, adult present, extinguisher nearby; barbecues and propane fire pits permitted | 2026-06-05 |
| Antigonish Town |
Outdoor Fire By-law | permit required: False · allowed conditions: Fires in acceptable fire pit with spark arrestor, dry seasoned firewood, >15 ft from buildings/property line, no nuisance, adult present, extinguisher nearby; barbecues permitted · fines: First offence $250.00; second $1,000.00; third $5,000.00 (no less than $250, not exceeding $5,000) | 2026-06-05 |
| Berwick Town |
Outdoor Fire Bylaw (No. 32) | permit required: False · allowed conditions: Clean dry wood in acceptable fire pit with spark arrestor, >15 ft from buildings/structures/property line, responsible adult present, extinguisher nearby; barbecues permitted · fines: First offence $250.00; second $1,000.00; third $5,000.00 (no less than $250, not exceeding $5,000) | 2026-06-05 |
| Bridgewater Town |
Chapter 18 — Fire Protection By-Law
adopted 2012-09-24 |
permit required: False · permit issuer: Fire Chief or Fire Inspector (for religious/ceremonial open fires only) · allowed conditions: All burning prohibited except cooking food on certified portable barbeque or in grill/fireplace with dry seasoned wood or charcoal; solid-fuel grills not before 11:00am, embers out by 1:00am | 2026-06-05 |
| Cape Breton Regional municipality |
Burning By-law No. B-400
adopted 1999-05-18 |
permit required: True · permit issuer: Fire Chief · allowed conditions: Permitted areas (Schedule A) with permit; no burning before 8:00 a.m., fires extinguished by 9:00 p.m.; material 15 m from combustibles; not rubber/oil/plastic | 2026-06-05 |
| Chester District municipality |
Outdoor Fire By-law No. 142 | — | 2026-06-05 |
| Colchester County municipality |
Outdoor Fire By-law — Chapter 9
adopted 2023-06-27 |
permit required: False · allowed conditions: In Designated Fire Districts (Bible Hill etc.) outdoor fires prohibited unless in an Acceptable Fire Pit (max 1m wide) with spark arrestor, only clean dry wood/charcoal, >15 ft from buildings/property line, supervised by suitably-equipped adult, no nuisance · fines: First $500-$1,000; second $1,000-$2,500; third or subsequent $2,500-$5,000 (default imprisonment up to 30 days) | 2026-06-05 |
| Cumberland County municipality |
Open Air Burning By-Law 21-06
+1 more adopted 2021-12-22 |
permit required: True · permit issuer: Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources (provincial Burning Permit); fire chief may extinguish non-compliant fires · allowed conditions: Open air fire permitted only with a valid NS DNR Burning Permit (fire >=30m from adjacent properties, authorized, attended, suppression accessible) or specified exceptions: campfires (<=75cm wide >=9m from dwellings, or <=120cm wide >=30m), recreational outdoor wood burning appliances, agricultural/training/distress fires | 2026-06-05 |
| Digby Town |
A By-law Respecting Outdoor Fires No. 2018-04
adopted 2018-11-05 |
permit required: False · allowed conditions: recreational cooking/wood fires in approved appliance/propane pit, located 15+ ft from buildings/property line, adult present, extinguisher available; no fire during NSDNR fire ban · fines: fine not exceeding $500.00; $250.00 payment in lieu of prosecution | 2026-06-05 |
| Halifax Regional municipality |
By-law O-109 Respecting Open Air Burning
adopted 2010-10-19 |
permit required: True · permit issuer: Fire Chief · allowed conditions: Permit required except in No Permit Required Zone, campgrounds, CSA/ULC appliances, gas/propane; not within 23 m of dwelling; no burning 12:01 a.m.-2:00 p.m. (Mar 15-Oct 15); two persons 19+ present | 2026-06-05 |
| Kentville Town |
CH78 — Outdoor Fire | — | 2026-06-05 |
| Kings County municipality |
By-law 63 — Open Burning and Smoke Control | permit required: False · allowed conditions: recreational fire of clean firewood in acceptable fire pit/decorative appliance 10 ft (3m) from buildings/property line, adult 19+ present, extinguisher available, no nuisance; brush piles up to 10x10x6 ft 40 ft from buildings; land-clearing/agricultural debris within NSDNR time-of-day restrictions, 300 ft from occupancies · fines: not less than $100 and not more than $5,000; $100 penalty payment within 14 days | 2026-06-05 |
| Lockeport Town |
Open Air Fires By-Law (By-Law 107) | allowed conditions: Open air fires prohibited; permitted: cooking in certified BBQ or acceptable fire pit/fireplace using clean fuel; fire dept training · fines: $250-$5,000 | 2026-06-05 |
| Lunenburg Town |
Burning By-law No. 928 | permit required: True · permit issuer: Town of Lunenburg through the Building/Fire Inspector · allowed conditions: Written Burning Permit required to ignite fire outside building; no permit for BBQ or wood burning appliances; permits only for brush, field, agricultural burning | 2026-06-05 |
| Mahone Bay Town |
Outdoor Burning By-law | permit required: True · permit issuer: By-law Enforcement Officer or the Fire Chief · allowed conditions: Open-air fire needs signed approval; outdoor fire only in acceptable fire pit; BBQ and outdoor burning appliances permitted with conditions (dry firewood, adult present, extinguisher, 4.5m clearance) | 2026-06-05 |
| Middleton Town |
Public Safety (No. 213) — Chapter 18
adopted 2011-05-02 |
permit required: True · permit issuer: Fire Chief or appointed officer · allowed conditions: No burning of waste resources except brush, tree limbs, milled wood without a written permit; no burning permitted between 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. (permit); outdoor wood furnaces prohibited | 2026-06-05 |
| Mulgrave Town |
By-Law #16 — Fire Prevention By-Law | permit required: True · permit issuer: Town of Mulgrave (Burning Permit for commercial enterprises) · allowed conditions: No open fire pits/burn barrels; outdoor fire only in acceptable fire pit per NS Burn Restrictions; BBQ and outdoor wood/gas appliances permitted with conditions; outdoor wood furnaces prohibited | 2026-06-05 |
| New Glasgow Town |
Fire and Burning Bylaw | permit required: True · permit issuer: Fire Chief · allowed conditions: Recreational Outdoor Burning Appliances compliant with bylaw allowed without permit; clean dry wood/charcoal only; no burning during burn restrictions or wind >25 km/h; min 4.75m from structures | 2026-06-05 |
| Oxford Town |
Fires and Burning of Materials Bylaw
adopted 1993-08-09 |
permit required: True · permit issuer: Fire Chief · allowed conditions: No outdoor burning except as permitted; barbecue/outdoor cooking of charcoal or flammable materials for food preparation exempt | 2026-06-05 |
| Pictou Town |
Outdoor Fire By-Law
adopted 2012-05-30 |
permit required: True · permit issuer: Fire Chief, Fire Inspector or Designate · allowed conditions: Outdoor fire only in Acceptable Fire Pit, Outdoor Furnace, or under permit; only seasoned firewood/charcoal; fire pit >25 feet from buildings/property line; responsible adult present; no burning in dry/windy conditions; permit burns 08:00-20:00 | 2026-06-05 |
| Port Hawkesbury Town |
Outdoor Fire By-Law
adopted 2012-10-02 |
permit required: True · permit issuer: Fire Chief · allowed conditions: Outdoor fire only in an acceptable fire pit or wood-burning appliance; only dry seasoned firewood; spark arrestor/screen; located >15 feet (5m) from buildings/property line; responsible adult present; no nuisance | 2026-06-05 |
| Queens Regional municipality |
By-law No. 2 - Burning
adopted 1998-03-16 |
permit required: True · permit issuer: Chief Officer of the Fire Department for Liverpool (Issuing Authority) · allowed conditions: Permit required (Liverpool, Apr 1-Oct 15); fire 30 ft from residence; no burning 10:00 p.m.-9:00 a.m.; residential lots 5:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m.; attended; no Municipal Solid Waste | 2026-06-05 |
| Shelburne Town |
Fire Prevention and Open Burning By-law
adopted 2010-05-19 |
permit required: True · permit issuer: Fire Chief · allowed conditions: Without permit: cooking with portable BBQ or in acceptable fire pits/fireplaces using clean fuel, no nuisance/hazard, adult present, extinguished before leaving | 2026-06-05 |
| Stellarton Town |
Fire Burning By-Law #53 | permit required: False · allowed conditions: CSA-approved burning units or burning barrel with suitable grate permitted with conditions: garden hose within 10 ft, sufficient care/help, not during windy conditions, fire watched until extinguished | 2026-06-05 |
| Stewiacke Town |
Burning of Brush, Wood and Yard Debris Bylaw No. 59 | permit required: True · permit issuer: Fire Chiefs · allowed conditions: Permit required during fire season (Jan 1-Dec 31) to burn brush/wood/yard debris; exempt: cooking fires in suitable place, or fire confined to container with spark arrester clear of brush, precautions taken | 2026-06-05 |
| Trenton Town |
By-Law No. 2023-01: Outdoor Fires
+1 more |
permit required: True · permit issuer: development officer for the Town of Trenton · allowed conditions: Outdoor wood furnace only in rear yard, at least 122 m (400 ft) from nearest lot line, chimney stack at least 1.8 m above roof peak of structure being heated | 2026-06-05 |
| Truro Town |
Outdoor Fires Bylaw No. 853 | permit required: True · permit issuer: Fire Chief · allowed conditions: Cooking on BBQ; acceptable fire pit or chiminea with spark arrestor, clean dry wood, 5m setback, supervised; only 6:00 a.m.-12:00 midnight unless permitted otherwise | 2026-06-05 |
| West Hants Regional municipality |
Outdoor Fires By-law RO-001 | permit required: False · permit issuer: Fire Chief (for situations not otherwise defined, via special arrangement) · allowed conditions: Permitted without permit: BBQ, acceptable appliance/chiminea, campfire in rural area; rural brush/agricultural burning Mar 15-Oct 15 per NS Forest Act, not within 100 m of other dwelling, 20 m of structure, supervised | 2026-06-05 |
| Wolfville Town |
Chapter 71 - Outdoor Fire Bylaw | permit issuer: Fire Chief · allowed conditions: Recreational fire to cook food in acceptable outdoor wood burning appliance, propane fire pit, fireplace or BBQ; seasoned dry wood, spark arrestor, 15ft/4.57m from buildings/property line, one fire, attended, no nuisance · fines: not less than $200.00 first offence, $400.00 second, $900.00 third and subsequent | 2026-06-05 |
| Yarmouth Town |
Open-Air Burning Bylaw (TOY 79)
adopted 2025-11-13 |
permit required: True · permit issuer: Fire Chief · allowed conditions: Burning only in Outdoor Wood Burning Appliance with annual permit; 4.6m/15ft from structures/property line/forest; clean dry wood only; not started before 7pm weekdays/2pm weekends, extinguished by midnight; no wind >20km/h, no fog | 2026-06-05 |
Nothing on file for open burning & fires
Absence here is explicit, not a gap: each municipality below was checked, and its status says why there is no document.
Other bylaws on file, none on this topic (18) — Annapolis, Antigonish, Argyle, Barrington, Clare, Clark's Harbour, Digby, East Hants, Guysborough, Inverness, Lunenburg, Pictou, Richmond, Shelburne, St. Mary's, Victoria, Westville, Yarmouth.