TORONTO, April 27, 2026 – As temperatures rise in late April, Markham is entering a peak period for backyard fire use. Under the city’s current rules, any wood-burning fire pit, fire drum, or chiminea is considered open air burning and requires a permit application at least 48 hours in advance. If a homeowner lights a fire in the backyard without approval, they may be ordered to extinguish it on the spot and could face a fine of about CAD $600 to $650. For Chinese homeowners living in detached homes in Markham and planning backyard gatherings this weekend, the most important things to confirm now are whether their area is eligible for approval, whether their yard meets the required distance rules, and whether the device is a wood-burning unit or a legal gas fire feature.
Markham does not completely ban outdoor wood-burning, but the threshold is high. In addition to submitting an Open Air Fire Permit application in advance, applicants must also pay an application fee of about CAD $246 plus HST. More importantly, the property must meet strict distance requirements: the fire source must maintain a sufficient safety distance from buildings, fences, roads, power lines, and other combustible materials. For most ordinary residential backyards, this is often the hardest requirement to meet.
Another restriction that is easy to overlook is the area itself. The City of Markham clearly states that in areas south of 17th Avenue and west of 10th Line, permits for wood-burning open air fires are generally not approved. In other words, for many homeowners in mature residential neighbourhoods where many Chinese families live, the issue is not just whether to apply, but that the area itself is often outside the likely approval zone.
For many Chinese families, the real confusion usually falls into a few categories. Some assume that if a fire pit is sold in a store, it can automatically be used in the backyard. Others know a permit is needed, but do not realize it must be submitted at least 48 hours in advance, or that applying does not mean approval is guaranteed. Some households also confuse a wood-burning fire pit with a propane fire table, assuming both are simply “outdoor fire features” governed by the same rules. By the time a weekend gathering is underway with children and seniors present, they may only then discover that the fire source is too close to a fence, wooden deck, or neighbour’s window, leaving no time to adjust.
For ordinary residential households, the main legal alternative that does not require this wood-burning permit is a CSA-certified propane or natural gas outdoor fireplace or fire table. These types of units are generally not treated as wood-burning open air fires. Another permitted category is a small enclosed BBQ used for cooking. For families who mainly want to keep the atmosphere of a backyard gathering, checking first whether the device is a CSA-certified propane or natural gas unit is often far more practical than trying to apply at the last minute for a wood-burning permit.
A more common real-life scenario for many Markham homeowners is that they light a wood-burning fire pit during a weekend backyard gathering, assuming that because the fire pit was purchased legally in a store and the fire is small, no separate permit is needed. But in ordinary residential areas, it is often difficult for a backyard to meet both the zoning and distance requirements. Once smoke drifts into a neighbour’s property and a complaint is made, fire officials may arrive and the homeowner may then realize that being able to buy it does not mean it can be used legally right away.
It is important to note that submitting a permit application does not mean it has already been approved. And while a gas fire table does not require a wood-burning permit, that does not mean it can be used carelessly. Residents should still confirm that the unit is CSA-certified and that it is installed and operated according to instructions. For Markham homeowners, the most common mistake is often not intentional rule-breaking, but misunderstanding “sold in stores” or “other people use it” as meaning “it must be legal for me too.”
If a backyard gathering is planned for this weekend, the safer approach is to take three steps first: check whether your address is in a restricted area; confirm whether the device is a wood-burning unit or a CSA-certified gas device; and if wood-burning is involved, do not wait until the day of the gathering — apply at least 48 hours in advance and wait for formal approval. If there is still uncertainty, homeowners should check Markham’s rules before buying or using the equipment, in order to avoid wasted money, wasted preparation, or being ordered to extinguish the fire and issued a fine in the middle of a gathering. (LJI by Yuanyuan)
