Outdoor burning on most properties zoned rural (including rural residential) is permitted without a resource consent from Environment Canterbury. Stubble burning is also permitted, but conditions apply.
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
The Christchurch Clean Air Zones map is currently being updated.
You can instead view the detailed maps from the Air Plan:
Air Plan - Christchurch maps (pdf 5.38 MB)
The Air Plan maps include noise contour maps for Lyttelton. The Clean Air maps begin on the 7th page of the pdf ("page number 3-338"). The Clean Air Zones end at the Summit Road on the Lyttelton side.
Outdoor burning on rural properties in Christchurch Clean Air Zones 1 and 2 is not permitted without a resource consent from Environment Canterbury during the Christchurch winter outdoor fire ban which runs from 1 May to 31 August.
Outside this period, outdoor burning on rural properties is permitted, but if within 100 metres upwind or 50 metres in any other direction of a sensitive activity, a resource consent from Environment Canterbury is required.
Rural properties in Rangiora, Kaiapoi and Ashburton Clean Air Zones 1 and 2
Outdoor burning on rural properties in Rangiora, Kaiapoi and Ashburton Clean Air Zones is not permitted without a resource consent from Environment Canterbury while the winter outdoor fire ban which runs from 1 May to 30 September is in force.
Outside this period, outdoor burning is permitted, but if within 100 metres upwind or 50 metres in any other direction of a sensitive activity, a resource consent from Environment Canterbury is required. Please also check the conditions for outdoor burning.
Rangiora, Kaiapoi & Ashburton
The Rangiora, Kaiapoi and Ashburton Clean Air Zones maps are currently being updated. You can instead view the detailed maps from the Air Plan:
Air Plan - Rangiora, Kaiapoi & Ashburton maps (pdf 3.17 MB)
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. It is an offence to burn any other materials.
- 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 an Environment Canterbury enforcement officer.