For many homeowners, a backyard wouldn’t be complete without a fire pit. There’s something about the crackle and glow of a fire that adds to their enjoyment.

In Calgary, all fire pits need to abide by the Community Standards Bylaw. It covers all aspects from the installation of any backyard wood-burning fire pits to how you can use it.

Before planning a fire pit, here’s what you need to know: 

• Only use acceptable, non-combustible materials to build your fire pit.
• The fire pit should be set on the bare ground or non-combustible material such as brick or stone.
• Portable ones can be used on a deck, as long as they sit on brick or stone, and not directly on your deck.
• The walls of the fire pit must be less than the maximum size limit of 0.75 metres high, excluding a chimney.
• Ensure any fire pit is at least two metres from other structures and is not under a tree or overhanging branches.

If you already have a fire pit or if you want to use your new one, please be aware that as of November 2016, The City of Calgary has introduced some changes to the bylaw. The new 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 am on weekends.
• Increased fines for unsafe fires and burning prohibited materials.

These new regulations are in addition to the existing ones:

• Checking to see if there is a fire ban before starting a fire.
• Restricting the height of the flame to one metre.
• Burning clean, dry firewood, and not any unacceptable materials, such as: wet or green wood, yard waste, garage, rubber or plastic, furniture, wood from a different region or province and any wood that is painted, treated or contains glue or resin.
• Ensuring you have a means of extinguishing the fire on hand, and that you put it out before you leave it unattended.

All the latest rules can be found online on The City of Calgary website, and the current bylaws can be found here. Once you’ve followed all the guidelines and rules, you can get started on toasting the perfect marshmallow.