Burning and Fire Permits

Planning to burn in Fort Saskatchewan? Whether you're clearing yard waste or hosting a backyard fire, it's important to follow local regulations. This page outlines when you need to apply for burning and fire permits, what types of fires are allowed, and the safety guidelines you need to know. Stay compliant and help keep our community safe.

Before you burn:

• Always check the fire hazard and wind conditions. Never burn during a Fire Ban.
• Always have a way to put out the fire close to your fire pit. Easy options are your watering hose or a bucket of water.
• All fires must be continually supervised.

Fire pits

Backyard fire pits do not require a permit.

Within the City of Fort Saskatchewan, residential fire pits must:

• Be at least 3 metres (10 feet) from buildings, property lines and anything else that could catch fire
• Be surrounded by 1 metre (3 feet) of non-combustible material i.e. gravel, shale, concrete, etc.
• Be less than 0.6 metres (2 feet) high
• Be less than 1 metre (3 feet) wide
• Have enclosed sides made from bricks, concrete or heavy-gauge metal
• Have a mesh screen on top to stop sparks (spark-arrestor) with openings smaller than 1.25 centimetres
  (1/2 inch)

For quick reference, please refer to our Fire Pit Brochure.

Open-air burning

Those looking to have an open-air burn need to obtain a fire permit from the Fire Department. An open-air burn is when a person burns clean material that is not within a fire pit. For more information or assistance with permits, please contact the Fire Department directly by calling 780-998-4858 or emailing FSFD@fortsask.ca.

While you burn

Have a mobile phone ready, and be prepared to call 9-1-1 if the fire gets out of control. The earlier you call, the better. Don't attempt to extinguish the fire yourself - call us first.

Please consider your neighbours.

• Smoke from fire pits can cause adverse health effects in some people. Be aware of neighbours that may be negatively impacted to exposure of smoke from outdoor fire pits.
• Before using your fire pit, familiarize yourself with optimal wind conditions and take precautions to prevent smoke from disturbing your neighbours.
  • High wind speeds may send smoke long distances or pose a fire hazard.
  • Low wind speeds won't easily disperse smoke and can contribute to poor air quality.
• Placing a metal grill/screen on top of the fire pit reduces the flame's size and helps prevent sparks and embers from escaping and igniting nearby materials.

What can I burn?

You can burn non-combustible debris or wooden materials which do not contain preservatives.

Please put any yard debris in your Green Organics Cart. Please do not burn the following:

• grass and weeds;
• leaves, tree prunings, brush and fallen trees on newly cleared land or associated with logging operations; or,
• straw and stubble.

What I can't burn?

You cannot burn prohibited or combustible waste as they may release dense smoke, offensive odours or toxic substances. Prohibited waste includes:

• animal manure;
• pathological waste;
• non-wooden material;
• waste material from building or construction sites, excluding wooden materials that do not contain preservatives;
• combustible material in automobile bodies;
• tires;
• rubber/plastic, or anything coated with rubber /plastic or similar substances, except if attached to shredded scrap steel;
• used oil; or,
• wood/wood products containing preservatives.

Caution: The City and Province can issue hefty fines against those who burn prohibited materials.