In accordance with the City of St. Catharines' Open Air Burning By-law, cooking fires in barbecues or smokers are permitted between the hours of 8 a.m. and 1 a.m.
Common safety tips
- Do not place barbecues next to vinyl siding, wooden walls or combustible material.
- Never throw water on a grease fire. Keep a fire extinguisher nearby.
- Clean your barbecue to ensure it is free of rust, debris and spider webs.
- Examine your barbecue to ensure there are no cracks or damage to parts.
Regulations and requirements
Barbecues and smokers can be operated as long as the following regulations and requirements are met:
- Barbecues shall be located no less than 1 metre horizontally from any structure, property line, overhang, balcony, tree, fence, roadway, overhead wires or other combustible material.
- Clearances may be reduced where the barbecue or smoker is listed by a Canadian listing agency, with the certification plate attached and legible.
- The barbecue may be located on a combustible deck provided that the cooking surface is located a minimum of 0.75 metres away from the deck's surface.
- The surface of the cooking fire is no less than 3 metres away from all building openings and intakes.
- A suitable means of extinguishing the fire, such as a fire extinguisher, is available nearby.
- The cooking fire or smoke does not create a nuisance to anyone as determined by St. Catharines Fire and Emergency Services.
- The person setting the fire is in constant watch and control and is no further than 5 metres away from the cooking fire.
- Barbecues shall use natural gas, propane, charcoal or dry natural wood which has not been treated or painted. No building materials, manufactured or altered wood products may be burned.
- The fire is extinguished immediately when cooking is completed.
- Propane barbecues must meet the following requirements:
- No more than 3 "single-trip" or "non-refillable" propane cylinders (typically found on table top barbecues) shall be stored in a dwelling unit.
- No propane tanks (other than those described above) shall be stored or installed inside a building, including a garage, on a roof, under or within 3 metres of any window, air intake, fire escape, stairway, ramp or door used as a means of egress from a building.
- Propane tanks transported in an elevator must be transported in a freight elevator. Where a freight elevator is unavailable, a passenger elevator may be used where only the tank and person carrying the tank are permitted.
- Smokers may be used between the hours of 8 a.m. and 1 a.m., provided they meet the same requirements as above, with the exception that they do not require a grill and the size of the cooking surface is not regulated.
Public spaces
Propane barbecues are permitted at city parks for small gatherings for personal family use. Charcoal barbecues are not permitted at city parks unless a permanent barbecue installed by the city is in place. These permanent structures cannot be reserved for use.
For private events such as large family gatherings, church picnics or similar events visit the ActiveSTC page to make reservations.
For public events please refer to the city's Festivals and Special Events page.