Outdoor Burning

photo of outdoor burning.

Outdoor burning is often a nuisance for neighbours and can be a health hazard. It can also contribute to air pollution. That’s why the Air Plan (Proposed Canterbury Natural Resources Regional Plan, Chapter 3: Air Quality) has restricted outdoor burning in some areas and/or at some times of the year.

Currently a ban on outdoor burning is in place on:

all residential properties in Canterbury
all rural properties in Canterbury close to sensitive activities

What can I do with my rubbish instead?

The rules on outdoor burning as outlined below apply. Please be aware that fire authorities and district councils may have fire bans in place any time of the year for fire risk reasons. Also check the conditions for outdoor burning (when and where permitted).

If you do have an outdoor fire without a resource consent when one is required, the consequences could include, infringement notices ($300 for a domestic offence), abatement notices and enforcement orders. If the offending is persistent, it could lead to prosecution.

Outdoor Burning Residential Properties

Outdoor burning on properties zoned residential throughout Canterbury is not permitted at any time of the year without a resource consent from Environment Canterbury.

Note: Deposit for a resource consent is $1,125 and there is no guarantee it will be granted. If you have obtained a resource consent for outdoor burning from Environment Canterbury, you will still have to comply with the safety requirements of your local district or city council. In addition to a resource consent from Environment Canterbury further fire permits may be required from the Department of Conservation or the relevant Rural Fire Authority.

Outdoor Burning on Rural Properties

Outdoor burning on most properties zoned rural (including rural residential) is permitted without a resource consent from Environment Canterbury. Stubble burning is also permitted. Please also check the conditions for outdoor burning.

Rural Properties Close to Sensitive Activities

Outdoor burning is not permitted on rural properties 100 metres upwind or 50 metres in any other direction of a sensitive activity without a resource consent from Environment Canterbury. Please also check the conditions for outdoor burning.

Sensitive activities include schools, hospitals, parks, residential areas and any public amenity area or place of public assembly.

Rural Properties in Christchurch Clean Air Zones 1 and 2

Click on this thumbnail or link below for larger view of map:

image icon. Christchurch Clean Air Zones Map File size icon. 64kB

Outdoor burning on rural properties in the Christchurch Clean Air Zones is not permitted without a resource consent from Environment Canterbury during the Christchurch winter fire ban which runs from 1 May to 31 August.
Outside this period, outdoor burning is permitted however there are restrictions for properties close to sensitive activities. Please also check the conditions for outdoor burning.

Rural Properties in Rangiora, Kaiapoi and Ashburton Clean Air Zones 1 and 2

Outdoor burning on Rangiora, Kaiapoi and Ashburton rural properties is not permitted without a resource consent from Environment Canterbury during the Rangiora, Kaiapoi and Ashburton winter fire ban which runs from 1 May to 30 September.
Outside this period, outdoor burning is permitted, however there are restrictions for properties close to sensitive activities. Please also check the conditions for outdoor burning.

Click on thumbnails or links below for larger views of maps:

View Rangiora Clean Air Zones 1 and 2 Map  25kB

View more detailed maps of Rangiora  1.44MB

View Kaiapoi Clean Air Zones 1 and 2 Map  43kB

View more detailed maps of Kaiapoi  1.07MB

View Ashburton Clean Air Zones 1 and 2 Map  168kB

View more detailed maps of Ashburton  2.84MB

Conditions of Outdoor Burning

Where and when outdoor burning is permitted, it is subject to the following conditions:

Only the following materials are allowed to be burnt: Vegetation (including stubble and crop residue), paper, cardboard and untreated wood.
Rubber tyres, painted wood, wood treated with preservatives, batteries, foam, chipboard and some other materials are not allowed to be burnt.
Any fire should not cause an offensive or objectionable effect beyond the boundary of the property where the fire is located. Whether an effect is offensive or objectionable is at the discretion of the Environment Canterbury enforcement officer.

Outdoor Burning in the Air Plan

For more information on the rules for outdoor burning please check the Air Plan (Proposed Canterbury Natural Resources Regional Plan, Chapter 3: Air Quality, Variation 11 (Rangiora), Variation 12 (Kaiapoi) and Variation 13 (Ashburton)) or contact us.