Are Wood-Burning Fireplaces Allowed in New Builds in Ontario?

One of the more common statements I hear — especially when speaking with contractors, builders, and homeowners — is:

“Wood-burning fireplaces aren’t allowed anymore.”

After spending some time reviewing the regulations and speaking with people in construction, the answer appears to be more nuanced than that.

The short version:

Wood-burning fireplaces still appear to be permitted in Ontario new builds in certain circumstances, but they are heavily regulated, more difficult to approve, and far less common than they once were.

What the Ontario Fire Code Says

Ontario’s Fire Code references CSA B365, the Canadian installation standard for solid-fuel-burning appliances and equipment.

That standard governs:

• chimney systems,

• clearances to combustible materials,

• combustion air requirements,

• venting,

• hearth protection,

• and overall installation safety.

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In other words, wood-burning fireplaces are no longer simple architectural features. They are highly engineered systems that must comply with strict technical and safety standards.

Why Many Builders Avoid Them

After speaking with builders and contractors, the issue appears to be less about a province-wide ban and more about practical reality.

The challenges commonly mentioned include:

• permit resistance,

• municipal approval hurdles,

• additional insurance requirements,

• increased construction complexity,

• emissions considerations,

• and the realities of building modern airtight homes.

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As a result, many builders decide the additional effort and cost are not worth it when gas or electric fireplaces are easier to install, approve, and insure.

One contractor explained that they had attempted wood-burning systems in new projects but encountered enough friction during permitting and insurance discussions that most clients ultimately abandoned the idea.

The Difference Between “Illegal” and “Difficult”

This distinction matters.

There is a major difference between:

• “Ontario bans wood-burning fireplaces,”and:

• “Many municipalities, builders, and insurers strongly discourage them.”

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Those are not the same thing.

In practice, custom luxury homes and cottage properties still sometimes include high-efficiency wood-burning fireplaces — particularly when they are designed properly from the outset and installed to current standards.

What This Means Going Forward

The market has clearly shifted.

Traditional open-hearth fireplaces are far less common than they once were, and modern construction increasingly favors:

• gas,

• electric,

• or high-efficiency EPA-certified wood-burning systems.

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But despite the added complexity, wood-burning fireplaces do not appear to have disappeared entirely from Ontario new construction.

They have simply become:

• more specialized,

• more regulated,

• and more difficult to execute properly.

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And for homeowners who still value a real wood-burning fire, that distinction matters.