Outdoor fireplace rules in NZ

Three sets of rules can apply to a fire in your backyard. None of them is complicated, but they come from different places, which is why people get caught out. This is a general guide. Always check the rules for your own address.

1. Fire seasons

Fire and Emergency New Zealand sets a fire season for every area: open, restricted or prohibited. Depending on the season and the type of fire you want to light, you may need a permit, and in a prohibited season most open-air fires are banned.

Before you light anything outside, check your address at checkitsalright.nz. It tells you the season you are in, whether your type of fire is allowed and whether you need a permit.

2. Council smoke rules

Fire and Emergency is clear that whatever the fire season, you still have to comply with council bylaws and regional council rules on smoke nuisance. In practice that means:

• Smoke that drifts into a neighbour's property can be a nuisance even when the fire itself is allowed.
• Some urban areas restrict or ban outdoor burning altogether. Regional councils publish their own outdoor burning rules.
• Burn only dry, untreated wood. Never burn treated timber, painted wood or rubbish.

3. Building rules for permanent fireplaces

A portable fire pit is not a building. A permanent outdoor fireplace or pizza oven can be. Councils generally do not require a building consent for a household outdoor fireplace that meets certain limits. Palmerston North City Council, for example, lists them as: not attached to a building, at least 1 metre from any building or boundary, and no more than 2.5 metres high. It must not create a nuisance, and a fire permit may still be needed. Ask your own council before you build.

Where a smokeless fire fits

Most outdoor fire complaints are about smoke. A bioethanol fire burns to heat, water vapour and carbon dioxide, so there is no smoke to drift over the fence, no embers and no ash. That removes the smoke nuisance problem, which is why bioethanol fire pit tables and outdoor fires suit town sections, courtyards and covered outdoor rooms.

It is still an open flame. Check the fire season for your address before you light it, keep the manufacturer's clearances, and never leave it burning unattended.

If you want a wood fire

• Check the fire season and whether you need a permit.
• Check your regional council's outdoor burning rules.
• Keep it well clear of buildings, fences and overhanging trees.
• Think about where the smoke will go before you light it, not after.
• Have water or a hose within reach, and put the fire right out before you leave it.

Our Glowbus Dewdrop burns wood as standard, with bioethanol available as an option.

Apartments and shared spaces

Balconies and shared courtyards usually come under body corporate rules as well. Check those before you buy.

Not sure what suits your section?

Tell us where the fire is going and we will suggest the options that fit. Call 0800 468 836 or visit our Takapuna showroom, open seven days.

Sources: Fire and Emergency New Zealand; Palmerston North City Council. Rules change and vary by district. Reviewed October 2026.