Can I burn today in Huntsville?
Huntsville’s by-law does not set out what each fire danger rating allows, so this page cannot tell you whether today is a burning day. Today’s rating is beside this, and the fire hall below has the answer.
- Air quality (AQHI)
- 2 · Low risk
- Measured at
- Dorset
- Observed
- 5:00 PM EDT Wednesday 9 September 2026 · rating measured at the centre of District Municipality of Muskoka, which covers a wide area
A rating is not permission. A fire ban can be declared at any time. Huntsville Fire Department (Huntsville/Lake of Bays Fire Department) decides — not this page.
No permit is needed for an ordinary recreational or non-recreational open air fire — comply directly with the by-law's size, setback, hours, wind-speed and AQHI rules (Sections 6 and 7 of By-law 2019-74).
Check the current Fire Rating before burning — the shared Huntsville/Lake of Bays Fire Department posts it online or via the Muskoka forest fire rating hotline 1-877-847-1577.
Farmers conducting a normal farm-practice vegetation burn must first obtain written or oral permission from the Chief Fire Official or designate and notify the Fire Department of the specific burn date(s) (by-law section 4.5).
General prohibition — daytime hours, fire season
No Person shall cause or permit, conduct or engage in any Open Air Burning in the Town between the hours of eight o'clock in the morning and six o'clock in the evening each and every day between the first day of April and the last day of October in each year, except as permitted under Section 4, 5, 6 and 7 of this by-law.
Flying lanterns prohibited
No Person shall set off (release into the air) a Flying Lantern at any time.
Recreational open air burning — size limit
Every Person conducting Recreational Open Air Burning shall confine the fire to a burn area no larger than 61 cm (2 ft) by 61 cm (2 ft) or .26 cubic m (8 cubic ft) in size. This includes Open Air Burning devices and Camp Fires.
Recreational open air burning — setback
Every Person conducting a Recreational Open Air Burning shall confine the fire to a location that provides for a minimum distance of 6 m (19.5 ft) in all directions from adjacent properties, combustible structures, objects and vegetation.
Recreational open air burning — wind and Air Quality Health Index limits
No Person shall conduct a Recreational Open Air Burning when the wind speed exceeds 30 km per hour. ... No Person shall conduct in Recreational Open Air Burning when the Ministry of the Environment issues an Air Quality Health Index of 8 or greater.
Non-recreational open air burning — pile size limit
No Person shall conduct any Non-Recreational Open Air Burning if the burn pile is greater than 2m (6.5 ft.) in diameter and 2m (6.5 ft.) in height.
Non-recreational open air burning — setback
Every Person conducting a Non-Recreational Open Air Burning shall confine the fire to a location that provides for a minimum distance of 100 m (328 ft.) in all directions from adjacent properties, combustible structures, and objects.
Non-recreational open air burning — wind and Air Quality Health Index limits
No Person shall conduct a Non-Recreational Open Air Burning when the wind speed exceeds 30 km per hour. ... No Person shall conduct a Non-Recreational Open Air Burning when the Ministry of the Environment issues an Air Quality Health Index of 8 or greater.
Farm burns — permission and notification required
A farmer who intends to set or conduct an Open Air Burning for the disposal of vegetable matter or vegetation on farm lands that is a normal farm practice ... shall: obtain written or oral permission from the Chief Fire Official or their designate; notify the Fire Department of the specific date or dates of the proposed fire; conduct it in accordance with the Outdoor Fires Regulation, O. Reg. 207/96 as amended.
A live readout of air quality, wind and fire danger for Huntsville — free, for any municipality, customer or not. See it and get the link.
By-laws change. This page summarises public documents and is not legal advice or permission to burn — Huntsville Fire Department (Huntsville/Lake of Bays Fire Department) decides.