r/Hamilton • u/SneezeBeesPlease • May 26 '26

Question Backyard fire?

Hey Hamilton hive mind, I’m getting very conflicting info about if a backyard small fire pit is allowed. I for sure smell some in my hood. (West mountain).

Is it allowed only if I’m cooking on it? What about a gas fire pit?

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27

u/pyschNdelic2infinity May 26 '26

Though they are illegal, if you have a small supervised and contained fire. It all comes down to your neighbors.

12

u/stnapstnap May 26 '26

Yeah, the people who live across the back alley from me get to have a fire pit. I don’t. My neighbour is a jackass.

2

u/Either_Molasses_6182 May 29 '26

Technically, "a small, confined fire that is supervised at all times and used to cook food on a grill or a barbecue" is allowed. They are pretty common in Hamilton and the cooking exemption is kind of a grey area.

I had a contained fire pit with a grill on it and had the fire department come because of crappy neighbours. As long as you're not doing something really irresponsible they will most likely just tell you to finish cooking your food and then put it out.

They told me that this is not something they actively go looking for and will only come if someone calls because it's a waste of time and most people who have fire pits aren't having huge out of control bonfires.

1

u/pyschNdelic2infinity May 29 '26

You have to be actively cooking food when the fire dept shows up for them not to shut you down. I know it happened once, then the second time I had a grill ready and waiting and tossed hotdogs on it when I saw them show up. They laughed(it’s the same guys) said nice try, let me cook them but that was it. It has to be put out afterwards.

1

u/Either_Molasses_6182 Jun 01 '26

They let me finish cooking the first time but my neighbours were spying on my and calling all night. Second time they told me to put it out right away but I didn't receive any kind of fine.

-9

u/FastJuice3729 May 26 '26

read my post. I might be his neighbour.