Wildfire season begins March 15 / Burning Rules and Regulations in HRM 

Wildfire season begins March 15  / Burning Rules and Regulations in HRM 
**** HRM Media Release

Wildfire season begins March 15

Wildfire season runs from March 15 to Oct. 15. While burning restrictions are in effect year-round, additional restrictions are in effect during wildfire season.

Fire safety is key to protecting your home and community. Follow these tips every time you make an outdoor fire:

  • Always check the daily burn restrictions before starting a fire to ensure it's safe and allowed.
  • Never leave your fire unattended - unattended fires can spread quickly and become dangerous.
  • Completely extinguish your fire - douse it with water, stir the ashes and repeat until everything is cool to the touch.

Through a voluntary process, residents may register to receive a wildfire risk assessment for their property using the FireSmart standard. The FireSmart program is a national initiative designed to help communities and property owners reduce the risk of wildfires. It provides education, guidelines and practical actions to minimize fire hazards in homes, businesses and public spaces. To learn more about a FireSmart assessment, visit our website.

For more information about wildfire safety, visit our website.

- **** Info via HRM Update - Starting 16 May 2024, the fine for violating daily burn restrictions is $25,000. Daily burn restrictions also now apply to provincial, municipal and private campgrounds (National parks are under the jurisdiction of Parks Canada).

Burning Rules and Regulations in HRM

It is important to protect your home and community.

Domestic Burning in a Permit Required Zone

If your property is serviced with both municipal water AND sewer, then you are in what’s described as a Permit Required Zone. Most of the urban/suburban lots in the municipality are located in a Permit Required Zone.

Permit Required Zone - Summer (March 15th – October 15th)

Burning types below are limited by the time of day. Time of day allowed in this category is 2 p.m. to midnight. The time of day may be further restricted by provincial or municipal bans and you must check for bans every time before you burn. They are posted 2 p.m. every day. Please see "Provincial / Municipal Bans" below to learn about bans. Domestic Burning (brush and tree limbs) is prohibited Domestic Waste Burning is prohibited and includes:
  1. leaf and yard waste including grass and grass clippings, twigs, and house and garden plants;
  2. box board including cereal, shoe, tissue and detergent boxes; and
  3. construction or demolition material, including saw dust, wood shavings, planking, siding, wood beams, plastic and rubber.
Campfire Burning (0.5 metre diameter open fire) is prohibited except in public or private campgrounds. Outdoor wood burning appliances are allowed without a permit if they meet the criteria in the By-law. Burning in propane or natural gas CSA or ULC approved appliance: These devices are not regulated under this By-law however all manufactures instructions must be followed. They are not subject to time restrictions.

Permit Required Zone - Winter (October 16th – March 14th)

All burning types below are limited by the time of day. Time of day allowed in this category is 8 a.m. to midnight.
Note via NS Government - Starting 16 May 2024, the fine for violating daily burn restrictions is $25,000. Daily burn restrictions also now apply to provincial, municipal and private campgrounds (National parks are under the jurisdiction of Parks Canada).
Domestic Burning (brush and tree limbs) allowed ONLY if :
  • the fire is 23 metres (75 feet) away from any dwelling or accessory building;
  • a person in charge of burning has a means to call 911 from site;
  • at least two people nineteen (19) years of age or older are present;
  • suitable equipment is in attendance to contain and extinguish the fire;
  • wind velocity will not jeopardize the ability to control and contain the fire;
  • municipal burn permitis filled out and on site during burning; and
  • the person in charge ensures all smouldering embers are completely extinguished prior to leaving the site
If you are in this category, note that achieving the setback distance is unlikely. Domestic Waste Burning is prohibited and includes:
  1. leaf and yard waste including grass and grass clippings, twigs, and house and garden plants;
  2. box board including cereal, shoe, tissue and detergent boxes; and
  3. construction or demolition material, including saw dust, wood shavings, planking, siding, wood beams, plastic and rubber.
Campfire Burning (0.5 metre diameter open fire) is prohibited except in public or private campgrounds. Outdoor wood burning appliancesare allowed without a permit if they meet the criteria in the By-law. Burning in propane or natural gas CSA or ULC approved appliance: These devices are not regulated under this By-law however all manufactures instructions must be followed. They are not subject to time restrictions.

Domestic Burning in a No Permit Required Zone

If your property is not serviced with both municipal water AND sewer, then you are in what is described as a No Permit Required Zone. Most of the rural lots in the municipality are located in a No Permit Required Zone. In addition to the criteria above, the following communities are defined as No Permit Required Zones:
Bayside Hubbards Prospect
Beaver Bank/Kinsac Hubley Prospect Bay
Big Lake Indian Harbour Queensland
Black Point Ingramport Seabright
Blind Bay Lewis Lake Shad Bay
Boutiliers Point Lower Prospect Sheet Harbour
Brookside Lower Tantallon Tangier
Cooks Brook McGrath's Cove Terence Bay
Dutch Settlement Meagher's Grant Three Harbours/Port Dufferin
East Dover Middle Musquodoboit Upper Musquodoboit
French Village Mooseland Upper Tantallon
Glen Haven Moser River West Dover
Glen Margaret Mushaboom White's Lake
Goodwood Musquodoboit Harbour
Hacketts Cove Ostrea Lake
Hatchet Lake Oyster Pond
Head of St. Margaret's Bay Peggy's Cove

No Permit Required Zone - Summer (March 15th – October 15th)

All burning types below are limited by the time of day. Time of day allowed in this category is 2 p.m. to midnight. The time of day may be further restricted by provincial / municipal bansand you must check for bans every time before you burn. They are posted daily at 2 p.m.
A pile of brush on fire
Domestic Burning (brush and tree limbs) allowed ONLY if :
  • the fire is 23 metres (75 feet) away from any dwelling or accessory building;
  • a person in charge of burning has a means to call 911 from site;
  • at least two people nineteen (19) years of age or older are present;
  • suitable equipment is in attendance to contain and extinguish the fire;
  • wind velocity will not jeopardize the ability to control and contain the fire; and
  • the person in charge ensures all smouldering embers are completely extinguished prior to leaving the site
Domestic Waste Burning is prohibited and includes:
  1. leaf and yard waste including grass and grass clippings, twigs, and house and garden plants;
  2. box board including cereal, shoe, tissue and detergent boxes; and
  3. construction or demolition material, including saw dust, wood shavings, planking, siding, wood beams, plastic and rubber.
Four people around a campfire talking and listening to one of them playing guitar.
Campfire burning (0.5 metre diameter open fire) is allowed ONLY if the fire is 4.75 metres (15 feet) away from any dwelling or accessory building. The campfire must be contained using non-combustible material and you must burn dry seasoned firewood. Only one campfire is permitted per property. Campfire burning is also permitted in public and private campgrounds. Outdoor wood burning appliancesare allowed if they meet the criteria in the By-law. Burning in propane or natural gas CSA or ULC approved appliance: These devices are not regulated under this By-law however all manufactures instructions must be followed. They are not subject to time restrictions.

No Permit Required Zone - Winter (October 16th – March 14th)

All burning types below are limited by the time of day. Time of day allowed in this category is 8 a.m. to midnight. Domestic Burning (brush and tree limbs) allowed ONLY if :
  • the fire is 23 metres (75 feet) away from any dwelling or accessory building;
  • a person in charge of burning has a means to call 911 from site;
  • at least two people nineteen (19) years of age or older are present;
  • suitable equipment is in attendance to contain and extinguish the fire;
  • wind velocity will not jeopardize the ability to control and contain the fire; and
  • the person in charge ensures all smouldering embers are completely extinguished prior to leaving the site
Domestic Waste Burning is prohibited and includes:
  1. leaf and yard waste including grass and grass clippings, twigs, and house and garden plants;
  2. box board including cereal, shoe, tissue and detergent boxes; and
  3. construction or demolition material, including saw dust, wood shavings, planking, siding, wood beams, plastic and rubber.
Campfire burning (0.5 metre diameter open fire) is allowed ONLY if the fire is 4.75 metres (15 feet) away from any dwelling or accessory building. The campfire must be contained using non-combustible material and you must burn dry seasoned firewood. Only one campfire is permitted per property. Campfire burning is also permitted in public and private campgrounds.
Outdoor wood burning appliancesare allowed if they meet the criteria in the By-law.