Can I burn today in Woodstock?
Woodstock’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
- London
- Observed
- 3:00 AM EDT Thursday 10 September 2026 · rating measured at the centre of Oxford County, which covers a wide area
A rating is not permission. Woodstock requires a permit, and a fire ban can be declared at any time. Woodstock Fire Department decides — not this page.
5 years from date of issue
A person 18 or older applies in writing to the Fire Chief using the open-air burning permit application
Property (including smoke alarms) must be inspected by the Fire Prevention Division before a permit is issued
Permit must be kept on site and produced on request.
Permit required (827.4.1)
No person shall set, maintain, or permit to be set or maintained, an open-air burning without a permit. (See Set Fine)
Occupied residential property only (827.4.2)
No person shall set, maintain, or permit to be set or maintained, an open-air burning within the City on a property that is not occupied, not used as a private residence and on which a residential use is not allowed under the City's Zoning By-law.
Permit validity - five years (827.5.4)
A permit issued under the Chapter is valid for a period of five years from the date of issue.
Site inspection prior to issuance (827.5.3)
An open-air burning permit shall not be issued until an inspection of the property, including verification of working smoke alarms in all property dwelling units, has been conducted by the Fire Prevention Division of the Woodstock Fire Department.
Outdoor fire container size/siting (827.6.1)
not burn or attempt to burn a volume of combustible material greater than 60 centimetres wide by 60 centimetres long by 45 centimetres high (23.6 inches wide x 23.6 inches long x 17.7 inches high); ... locate the outdoor fire container at least 4 metres (13 feet) from any building, structure, property line, tree, hedge, fence, roadway, overhead wire or other combustible article.
Burn hours and conditions (827.6.2)
b) only conduct the open-air burning between 4:00 p.m. and midnight, or when used as a cooking fire between 11:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., or when it is a normal farm practice between dawn and dusk; ... j) not burn if the wind speed exceeds 10 km (6.2 miles) per hour; k) not burn if there are rain or fog conditions; l) not burn if a smog alert has been declared; m) not burn during a municipal fire ban.
Smog alert - defined (827.2.16)
"smog alert" means an alert issued by the Ministry of the Environment with respect to air quality.
A live readout of air quality, wind and fire danger for Woodstock — 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 — Woodstock Fire Department decides.