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London backyard fires: container, cooking and permit conditions
London, Ontario, Canada
London’s open-air fire rules differ for a small container fire, a cooking fire and a larger permitted fire.
Key information
London’s open-air fire rules differ for a small container fire, a cooking fire and a larger permitted fire. Check weather and burn restrictions, use only allowed fuel and keep a suitable extinguishing supply ready.
On this page
Main Part 3 fire categories in by-lawF-9
| Category | Time window | Size and distance conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor non-combustible fire container | 4 p.m. to midnight | Fuel volume up to 46×46×30 cm; at least 4 m from listed structures and combustibles |
| Cooking fire | 11 a.m. to midnight | Small confined supervised fire proportional to food being cooked |
| Larger fire with permit | 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. | Up to 1×1×1 m; at least 50 m from listed structures and combustibles,5 m from combustible ground cover |
Sources: Open Air Burning By-law - F-9
Key checks at a glance
- Container placement and fuel
A container must be non-combustible and keep the fire contained.
- Weather, supervision and nuisance
Do not burn when wind exceeds 15 km/h, in rain or fog, or during a smog alert under the Part 3 conditions.
- Property permission and larger fire permits
The person must own the property or hold the owner’s prior written consent.
Sources: Open Air Burning By-law - F-9
Container placement and fuel
A container must be non-combustible and keep the fire contained. Its non-combustible base surface must extend past the unit by a distance equal to the container height. The four-metre separation includes buildings, property lines, trees, hedges, fences, roads and overhead wires.
Part 3 allows commercially produced charcoal, briquettes or clean dry seasoned wood. It prohibits noxious material such as treated or painted wood, plastics, tires and construction waste. A large pile of yard material does not become a permitted backyard fire by placing it in a container.
Sources: Open Air Burning By-law - F-9
Weather, supervision and nuisance
Do not burn when wind exceeds 15 km/h, in rain or fog, or during a smog alert under the Part 3 conditions. Keep an extinguishing agent sufficient to put the fire out immediately. Attend and control it at all times, then fully extinguish it before leaving.
Avoid excessive smoke, odour, sparks and embers that disturb neighbours or reduce road visibility. Permission can be affected by a burn ban. A cooking-fire exception under the by-law still requires its conditions; it is not an unrestricted right to make any fire.
Sources: Open Air Burning By-law - F-9
Property permission and larger fire permits
The person must own the property or hold the owner’s prior written consent. Larger fires need the Fire Chief’s permit, application and permit fees, and any specific safety conditions. The permit lasts for its stated date or seven days after issue, whichever is shorter.
A permit does not remove weather, fuel or supervision rules. Officials can inspect and order a fire extinguished. If the city must extinguish it, the by-law allows recovery of the expense from the owner.
Sources: Open Air Burning By-law - F-9
Barbecues, cooking and source limits
The by-law defines a manufactured barbecue designed solely for cooking separately and exempts its use for cooking under section 2.2. A fire pit used for cooking is governed by the cooking-fire provisions rather than automatically becoming a manufactured barbecue.
The city’s short summary has described cooking fires as always allowed, but the current F-9 consolidation includes an 11 a.m. to midnight window and other conditions. This guide follows those detailed provisions. The electronic consolidation is informational; obtain the official version from City Clerk at 519-661-4530 or docservices@london.ca for a legal matter.
Sources: Open Air Burning By-law - F-9
Questions and answers
Can a backyard container fire begin at noon?
The container category allows 4 p.m. to midnight. A qualifying cooking fire has a separate 11 a.m. to midnight window.
Source: Open Air Burning By-law - F-9
How large may the fuel pile be without the larger-fire permit route?
In the small outdoor-container category, up to 46 cm wide by 46 cm long by 30 cm high.
Source: Open Air Burning By-law - F-9
How far must the container be from a fence or tree?
At least 4 m under the Part 3 container conditions.
Source: Open Air Burning By-law - F-9
Can I burn painted scrap wood?
No. Painted and treated wood are prohibited noxious materials.
Source: Open Air Burning By-law - F-9
Can I leave a small fire unattended?
No. Attend, control and supervise it continuously and fully extinguish it before leaving.
Source: Open Air Burning By-law - F-9
What wind limit is listed?
No Part 3 burning if London’s reported wind speed exceeds 15 km/h.
Source: Open Air Burning By-law - F-9
Does cooking automatically remove every restriction?
No. A cooking fire must be small, confined, supervised and proportional to cooking, with its listed time and other conditions.
Source: Open Air Burning By-law - F-9
Does a manufactured barbecue follow exactly the same category?
No. A barbecue used solely to cook food is separately defined and exempted under section 2.2.
Source: Open Air Burning By-law - F-9
Can a tenant make a fire without owner consent?
Part 3 requires legal title or the owner’s prior written consent.
Source: Open Air Burning By-law - F-9
How long can a larger-fire permit last?
For the stated date or seven days after issue, whichever is shorter.
Source: Open Air Burning By-law - F-9