Tree waste rules in Newfoundland and Labrador: Permit to Burn, Forest Fire Season dates, fire bans and Forest Fire Offence and Penalty Regulations

This page reports what the official source says. It is not legal advice: ask the office named here. It follows five pages of the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador Department of Forestry, Agriculture and Lands. All dollar amounts are Canadian dollars.

Permit to Burn and the season

According to the department's page on cutting, transporting and burning, the minister declares a Forest Fire Season each year, which can be extended if conditions warrant. During the season a permit to burn must be obtained to ignite a fire on or within 300 metres of forest land. The department's Forest Fire Season page gives the 2026 season as May 1 to September 30 for the Island of Newfoundland and May 15 to September 30 for Labrador. It names the Forestry Act, the Forest Fire Regulations and the Forest Fire Liability and Compensation Regulations as the legislation that regulates outdoor burning in the season.

What counts as forest land

The page on forestry regulations says amendments to the Forestry Act and Regulations came into effect on June 3, 2026, with updated Forest Fire Offence and Penalty Regulations, Forest Fire Regulations and Mill Regulations. It says forest land includes any area where natural vegetation grows, naming forests, yards, fields, parks, paths, greenbelts, dry marsh, bogland and barrens. It says land with flammable vegetation, forest land and areas within 300 metres of forest land are areas where forestry officials can require a burn permit, declare a fire ban or ban forest travel. Flammable vegetation is living or dead plant material that could ignite easily, burn for a long time and spread fire. The page adds that sawmill residue piles must keep a buffer of at least 30 metres of non-flammable material from surrounding vegetation, and that mill owners must hold a residue management plan.

Fire bans

The department's fire bans page says fires are always banned where the Fire Weather Index is very high or extreme, and that the Province may declare regional or provincewide bans in dangerous periods. During a ban it says wood-fueled fires are not permitted on forest land, within 300 metres of forest land or on land with flammable vegetation, while a fully contained gas, propane or charcoal unit such as a barbecue may be operated. It says municipalities can declare their own bans under local bylaws and that a municipal ban applies whatever the provincial rating.

Penalties

The department's penalties page says Resource Enforcement Officers may issue a ticket or lay an information. It gives these ranges under the Forest Fire Offence and Penalty Regulations.

Offence	Penalty
Deliberately setting a fire	CA$100,000 to CA$500,000
High-risk activities, including lighting a fire without a Permit to Burn, lighting an outdoor fire when the Fire Weather Index is orange or red, leaving a fire unattended, and failing to follow a ministerial order prohibiting fires	Minimum CA$50,000
Continuing to cut or remove trees after an operating permit was suspended or cancelled	CA$5,000 to CA$10,000
Logging or industrial operation on forest land without an operating permit	CA$1,000 to CA$5,000

The fire bans page adds that anyone who violates provincial forest fire regulations may face fines and penalties, including the costs of fighting a wildfire.

For other places see the table on tree waste and chip rules. Another province is on the Alberta page.