An open-air fire is any fire not in a fireplace, fire pit, or cooking appliance. Anyone setting an open-air fire in Winnipeg must follow the rules in the Fire Prevention By-law.
You need an open-air fire permit to have open-air fires on any property other than single-family residential properties. This includes bonfires, burning of crop residue, disposal of wood, or warming fires on any property that is not a single-family residential property.
Religious and ceremonial fires require a permit, but there is no fee.
You do not need a permit for fires in a fire pit that meets the rules laid out in the Fire Prevention By-law on a residential property.
Your application must include:
A letter of permission from the property owner (if different from the applicant).
A hand-drawn map showing the burn location, the materials to be burned, and distances from buildings or combustible structures, the method for extinguishment, and any other relevant information.
Payment: we accept cash, credit card, debit, or cheque payable to the City of Winnipeg.
Bonfires
Before you have a bonfire, you will need:
An open-air fire permit you can produce on site if needed.
Dry, seasoned firewood. You cannot burn anything else.
Your bonfire must be a size that’s readily controlled.
Keep eight metres (25 feet) from any buildings, structures, trees, or overhead wires.
Other requirements as described on your permit.
Burning plants, trees, or disposing of wood
Burning of household yard waste, trees, leaves, or plants is not allowed on residential properties.
To burn plant materials or trees in an open-air fire that isn’t at a single-family property, you will need an open-air fire permit.
You must make every effort to remove debris from the site whenever possible and dispose of it at an approved landfill site. If you cannot do move the debris because it would be extremely difficult, you may burn it on-site if you have a permit and follow these rules:
You must have an open-air fire permit.
The fire must be limited to a size that is easily controlled by the person in charge.
The fire must be under constant adult supervision and all burning must be restricted to daylight hours.
A portable fire extinguisher, garden hose connected to water, or other acceptable way to put out the fire must be available on site.
The fire must be fully extinguished before the person in charge leaves the site.
Religious or ceremonial fires
All fires set for religious or ceremonial purposes must be maintained in a container that is acceptable under the Neighbourhood Liveability By-law.
You can apply for a free permit online.
Warming fires
A warming fire is a fire in a receptacle, usually a 45 gallon drum, to warm a person. Such warming fires are common at workers’ picket lines, outdoor skating rinks, winter carnivals, festivals, etc.
To have a warming fire, you must have the following:
A valid open-air fire permit.
A metal receptacle in good repair with a maximum capacity of 225 litres (50 gallons) and all openings covered by removable spark arrestors. Spark arrestors are grills or mesh with openings smaller than 12 mm (1/2 inch).
Only use clean wood.
Do not use garbage, rubber, plastic, or painted or chemically-treated wood.
Maintain a minimum of 3 meters (10 feet) from any buildings, structures, fences, trees, or overhead wires.