Outdoor fires
Overview
Outdoor rubbish fires
Most local councils have bylaws dealing with outdoor rubbish fires, including incinerators, for safety reasons and to control pollution. Bylaws may:
- ban outdoor fires and incinerators
- require the person setting the fire to have a council or Fire Service permit
- restrict outdoor fires to certain areas or times of the year
- require that a hose is available that is connected to a pressurised water supply
- require outdoor fires to be set a certain distance away from buildings, trees or fences
- ban fires at night
- require steps to be taken to minimise smoke.
What about outdoor cooking?
Outdoor fires for cooking, such as hāngī, umu and barbecues, are usually allowed at any time, so long as you take proper fire safety precautions. However, there may sometimes be specific restrictions (for example, during a dry summer).
Because the rules can vary from district to district and can also depend on the weather, it’s a good idea to check with the local council or fire service about specific restrictions.
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