Burning, fireworks and fire permits

Sept 18, 2025: Leduc County has issued a fire restriction due to to dry conditions and limited precipitation in the forecast.

Open burning

Open burning is any fire that is not contained within a firepit, campfire, burn barrel, fireplace, barbecue or smudge fire.

Apply for a fire permit online

Leduc County has online burn permits available for rural Leduc County residents and for businesses within the Nisku Business Park that are conducting open burning. Please note rural residents in subdivisions cannot have open burns. 

Rural residents require burn permits annually between March 1 and Oct. 31.

Businesses in the Nisku Business Park require permits year-round.

Nisku Business Park: fire permits needed year-round

Business representatives who wish to have an open fire in the Nisku Business Park must have a fire permit. Permits are required year-round in Nisku, and you can apply for a fire permit online. Please follow the instructions of your burn permit, as listed in Bylaw No. 13-24. 

Apply for a burn permit online

Rural: fire permits needed from March 1 to Oct. 31

Leduc County issues free fire permits to rural residents conducting open burns between March 1 and Oct. 31. Please note rural residents in subdivisions cannot have open burns. 

Beginning March 1, apply for your free fire permit using our new online system. If you don't want to apply for a fire permit online, you can still obtain one from a designated fire guardian in Leduc County.

Apply for a burn permit online 

Guide: creating an online burn permits user account

To apply for a fire permit online, please take the following steps:

  1. Go to lcfs.burnpermits.com
  2. Click on create account
  3. Follow the prompts listed to create your account

For assistance creating your account, please review this guide or call 780-955-7099.

Apply for a burn permit online

Open burning is allowed in the County, except in the following areas, as listed in the Burning Bylaw:

  • hamlets (Buford, Kavanagh, Looma, Rolly View, Sunnybrook and New Sarepta)
  • localities (Glen Park, Michigan Center, St. Francis and Telfordville)
  • subdivisions

You must follow all requirements of the fire permit, including monitoring the fire attended at all times and completely extinguishing the fire when the burn is complete.

You do not need a fire permit for open burns between Nov. 1 and Feb. 28 (unless you are in the Nisku Business Park), but you should follow our guidelines for burning in colder months. 

Fire guardians are volunteers in the community. As a result, they may not be able to respond to requests immediately. Contact a fire guardian in your fire district to get your permit; Leduc County councillors are also fire guardians.

East Leduc County (New Sarepta, Nisku and Millet fire districts)

Alan and Karen Durston

587-590-1535 or 780-922-9250

West Leduc County (Calmar, Thorsby and Warburg fire districts)

Mark and Joe Bendoritis

780-985-3779

Mike Bott

780-919-1250

Betty Glassman and Ron Hepperle

780-387-2275

Ron Patrick

780-668-2458

Vince Halwa

780-789-2355 or 780-224-6903

Dwayne Mayr

780-542-0297

Fire permit holders are allowed to burn the following materials:

  • paper products
  • yard waste (weeds, leaves, tree clippings, brush, fallen trees, etc.)
  • wood or wood products that don't contain preservatives

You can't burn any combustible waste that, when burned, may release dense smoke, offensive odours or toxic substances. This includes the following materials:

  • animal manure
  • pathological waste
  • wood or wood products that contain preservatives
  • rubber, including tires
  • plastic, including baler twine
  • oil
  • containers that held pesticides or chemicals
  • waste material from construction sites

Rural: fire permits not required from Nov. 1 to Feb. 28

You do not need a fire permit for open burns between Nov. 1 and Feb. 28 (unless you are in the Nisku Business Park); however, we encourage you to notify Leduc County Fire Services in advance of the burn. Please note rural residents in subdivisions cannot have open burns. 

The colder months mean different precautions are needed to prevent fires from becoming a nuisance or burning out of control. Some considerations are as follows:

  • Make sure winds aren’t blowing towards roadways or nearby properties when you burn, as smoke doesn’t dissipate as quickly and can linger in the area for greater periods of time.
  • Ensure there is sufficient snow cover to prevent fire from spreading. 
  • Make sure windrows are properly prepared for fire and burn one at a time.
    • Windrows must not exceed 60 metres in length and must have an eight-metre break between them.
    • Windrows must be at least 25 metres from uncleared land or standing hazardous fuels, and should be separated from other parallel windrows by at least 15 metres.
  • No controlled fire shall be left unattended and when fire is completed it must be fully extinguished.

Controlled burning

You do not need a fire permit for recreational fires (firepits) that are used for cooking, warmth or viewing for pleasures, and are fueled solely by dry wood. They must meet the below specifications:

  • Size: height of 0.6 metres (two feet) or less when measured from surrounding grade to the top of the firepit opening; width/diameter of opening is one metre (three feet) or less when measured at the widest part
  • Construction: enclosed sides made from bricks, concrete blocks, heavy gauge metal or other non-combustible material(s)
  • Spark arrestor: mesh screen with openings up to 1.25 centimetres (1/2 inch) and constructed of expanded metal (or equivalent non-combustible material) to cover the fire to contain and reduce airborne sparks
  • Clearance: minimum of three metres (10 feet) clearance from buildings, property lines and combustible materials
  • Surface: non-combustible surface extending one metre (three feet) from the firepit

You do not need a fire permit for fires contained to a burn barrel that meets the following specifications:

  • Size: container volume is 210 litres (45 gallons) or less
  • Spark arrestor: mesh screen with openings up to seven millimetres (1/4 inch) and constructed of expanded metal (or equivalent non-combustible material) must cover the fire to contain and reduce airborne sparks
  • Clearance: minimum of 15 metres (50 feet) clearance from buildings, property lines and combustible materials
  • Surface: non-combustible surface extending at least three metres (10 feet) from the container

You do not need a fire permit for campfires at a campsite that are used for light, cooking and warmth. Campfires are contained to a small area using rocks, stones and, at established campgrounds, designated firepits such as a steel fire ring.

You do not need a fire permit for smudge fires that are lit for the purpose of protecting livestock from insects using hay or straw to a maximum of one bale only; smudge fires must be contained.

You do not need a fire permit for using outdoor gas/propane appliances such as firepits, heaters and barbecues.

You do not need a fire permit for using outdoor charcoal/pellet-fueled appliances such as heaters and barbecues.

Controlled fires must be monitored at all times and must be completely extinguished when the burn is complete. To dispose of ash, place the ashes in a metal container and soak with water. Let the ashes sit for two-to-three days before disposal in a pit.

Burning can release pollutants, reduce visibility, create unpleasant odours and cause toxic contamination. Under the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act, burning certain materials is illegal. Be courteous of your neighbours; you cannot burn if it causes continuous physical discomfort to any nearby residents or obstructs or causes disruption to traffic or roadways.

Fire bans and restrictions

View the current fire advisories and bans in Alberta before you have an open or contained outdoor fire in Leduc County. Failure to comply with advisories, restrictions or bans could result in fines. Fire advisories, restrictions and bans are issued based on a variety of factors, including:

  • weather conditions
  • feedback from residents
  • fire conditions throughout the region and province

Certain restrictions may be placed on burning. A fire advisory indicates that a fire restriction or ban may be issued.

No open fires, smudge fires or fires contained to burn barrels are allowed, and any of these fires burning when the restriction is issued must be extinguished immediately. The discharge of fireworks is not allowed.

All fire permits are suspended, as per the Forest and Prairie Protection Act, and no new fire permits will be issued.

You can have a recreational fire (firepit) fueled by dry wood, a campfire at a campsite, use gas/propane appliances such as barbecues, heaters and firepits, and use solid-fuel (charcoal and pellets) appliances.

No outdoor fires are allowed, including open fires, smudge fires, campfires, recreational fires (firepits), or fires contained to burn barrels. Fires burning when the ban is issued must be extinguished immediately. The discharge of fireworks is not allowed.

All fire permits are suspended, as per the Forest and Prairie Protection Act, and no new fire permits will be issued.

You can use gas/propane appliances, such as barbecues, heaters and firepits, and use solid-fuel (charcoal and pellets) appliances.

Fireworks

View our fireworks safety tip sheet

You do not need a permit to discharge fireworks in Leduc County; however, you are asked to consider those in neighbouring areas prior to discharging fireworks.

The loud sounds and flashes of light caused by the discharge of fireworks can disturb livestock and animals. We recommend contacting nearby residents and informing them of your plans to discharge fireworks so they can take necessary precautions to protect livestock and animals. Further, we recommend you discharge fireworks as far away from neighbouring properties as possible.

Age requirement

You must be 18 years of age to purchase, posses, handle, discharge, fire or set off fireworks.

Storage considerations

  • No more than 10 kilograms of fireworks can be stored in a dwelling unit.
  • If consumer fireworks are stored in a dwelling unit, they must be stored:
    • away from flammable substances and sources of ignition
    • in a manner that protects them from theft
    • in a manner that ensures access to them is limited to adults

Discharging fireworks

  • Follow Natural Resources Canada’s recommended practices for the discharge of fireworks.
  • Read and follow all instructions on the fireworks packaging. It is your responsibility to maintain a safe discharge radius, as identified on the fireworks.
  • Fireworks must be set up so that, when ignited, the projectile will go into the air in a vertical direction with no more than 10 degrees variance.
  • You must not discharge fireworks:
    • in a place or manner that could cause a risk of injury, death or damage to persons or property
    • within 30 metres of a highway, road allowance, range road or township road
    • on a public beach, park or municipal reserve
    • within 30 metres of any building, tent, trailer, canvas shelter or motor vehicle
    • within 30 metres of a stand of trees, brush or power lines
    • when a fire ban or fire restriction is in place or when the weather conditions create an undue fire hazard such as when winds exceed 30 kilometres per hour.

Consumer fireworks are not toys. Consumer fireworks are, in fact, powerful pyrotechnic articles and, for this reason, both their sale and purchase are regulated.

Learn more about consumer fireworks safety from Natural Resources Canada.