When you ask Calgarians what they love about this city, the answer is often “the people”. While most of us do our best to be good neighbours, sometimes we need a little guidance to do the right thing. That’s where the Community Standards Bylaw comes in.
Did you know that the Community Standards Bylaw lays out the requirements for using backyard wood-burning fire pits? The regulations for fire pits include:
- Using a mesh screen or spark guard to reduce the spread of embers and sparks
- Extinguishing the flame by midnight on weekdays and 1 a.m. on weekends
- Restricting the height of the flame to one metre
- Building a fire pit within maximum size limits
- Listing materials that cannot be burned
- Ensuring the fire pit is at least two metres from other structures and is not under a tree or overhanging branches
- Ensuring you have a means of extinguishing the fire on hand and that you put it out before you leave it unattended
Fines for unsafe fires and burning prohibited materials have recently been increased, so it pays to understand the bylaw. For more information, visit Calgary.ca/firepits. If you have a concern or complaint about fire pits, call 311.
