AntoineAsphalt.ca
Footing · firebox · stone veneer
Outdoor Fireplaces in Hamilton, Burlington & Oakville
An outdoor fireplace is heavy masonry, so it starts below ground. We build the footing, firebox, firebrick lining, chimney and veneer, and plan the fuel around your city's rules.
Step 1 of 6 — Dig for a solid footing
An outdoor fireplace is heavy masonry, so it starts with excavation for a footing sized by the design.
Quick answer
Hamilton's Guideline 11 treats wood-burning outdoor fireplaces and chimineas as open-air burning: not permitted in urban areas, rural with a permit. Burlington counts them as open-air burning too. Oakville defines an outdoor fireplace in By-law 2006-174 and relaxes some pit conditions for it. A gas burner in the firebox gives the look without a burn permit in Hamilton and Burlington.
- ServiceOutdoor fireplaces
- AreasHamilton (incl. Ancaster, Dundas, Stoney Creek, Waterdown), Burlington and Oakville
- CompanyEst. 2020 · 200+ projects
- QuotesFree on-site quotes
- Phone(647) 459-7775
Step by step
How we build an outdoor fireplace
Step 1 of 6 — Dig for a solid footing
An outdoor fireplace is heavy masonry, so it starts with excavation for a footing sized by the design.
A reinforced concrete footing carries the weight of the firebox and chimney so the structure stays plumb through freeze-thaw.
Block walls form the firebox and the base of the chimney.
Heat-rated firebrick lines the inside of the firebox and a hearth sits in front of the opening.
The chimney goes up, gets a cap, and the whole structure is finished in stone veneer.
Wood-burning outdoor fireplaces count as open-air burning in Hamilton and Burlington urban areas. A gas burner set into the firebox gets the same look without a burn permit.
- Dig for a solid footing. An outdoor fireplace is heavy masonry, so it starts with excavation for a footing sized by the design.
- Pour the footing. A reinforced concrete footing carries the weight of the firebox and chimney so the structure stays plumb through freeze-thaw.
- Build the firebox. Block walls form the firebox and the base of the chimney.
- Line it with firebrick. Heat-rated firebrick lines the inside of the firebox and a hearth sits in front of the opening.
- Chimney, cap and stone veneer. The chimney goes up, gets a cap, and the whole structure is finished in stone veneer.
- Wood or gas?. Wood-burning outdoor fireplaces count as open-air burning in Hamilton and Burlington urban areas. A gas burner set into the firebox gets the same look without a burn permit.
By-laws
Wood vs gas fireplace rules
- Hamilton: outdoor fireplaces and chimineas are deemed open-air burning and are not permitted in the urban area; rural areas need a permit (By-law 02-283, Guideline 11).
- Burlington: an outdoor fireplace counts as open-air burning, which isn't permitted in urban areas (By-law 065-2019); designated rural areas can get a free permit.
- Oakville: By-law 2006-174 defines an outdoor fireplace as "a noncombustible structure designed to hold a fire for decorative or recreational purposes" (s. 1.1(h.1)). Section 2.2(n) says conditions (c), (f), (g) and (l) of s. 2.2 don't apply to it, so the s. 2.2 rules that remain — such as attending the fire and having an extinguishing agent on hand — still do.
- Gas insert option: a gas burner set into the firebox gets the same look. Hamilton allows propane and natural gas fire features without an Open Air Burning Permit (July 2021) and Burlington permits gas devices (not on apartment balconies or where condo rules prohibit them).
Rules change and burn bans happen in dry weather; check with your fire department before lighting.
Built to last
Construction
- Footing: a reinforced concrete footing, sized by the design, carries the firebox and chimney through freeze-thaw.
- Firebox: block walls form the firebox and the base of the chimney.
- Firebrick: heat-rated firebrick lines the firebox, with a hearth in front of the opening.
- Chimney & veneer: the chimney is capped and the structure finished in stone veneer.
- Placement: clearances come from the manufacturer's manual or code, whichever is greater.
Typical market ranges
What it costs
Ontario pricing depends on size and finish; we quote after a site visit. The only published figures we have are US data.
| Item | Typical range | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor fireplace, average | $3,000 | Lawn Love, Dec 2025 |
| Prefab outdoor fireplace | $1,200–$8,335 | Lawn Love, Dec 2025 |
| Custom masonry / stone fireplace | $6,000–$21,000 | Lawn Love, Dec 2025 |
| Contractor fireplace kit (no veneer) | $1,250–$3,750 | Lawn Love, Dec 2025 |
Prices are typical market ranges from the named third-party sources and dates, not Antoine's prices. Your exact price comes from an on-site quote.
Other options
Other fire features
Gas fire pits
- Typical price
- $3,000–$6,000 custom natural gas pit (Project Landscaping, May 2026)
- Rules at a glance
- Allowed in Hamilton and Burlington urban and rural without a burn permit
Wood fire pits
- Typical price
- $1,500–$3,500 block pit (Project Landscaping, May 2026)
- Rules at a glance
- Not permitted in Hamilton or Burlington urban areas without a permit
One plan
Pairs well with
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Straight answers
Outdoor fireplaces FAQ
Can I build a wood-burning outdoor fireplace in Hamilton?
Not in the urban area. Hamilton's By-law 02-283 guidelines say outdoor fireplaces and chimineas are deemed open-air burning and are not permitted in urban areas; rural areas need a permit (Guideline 11). Rural outdoor fireplaces need 3 m clearance from buildings and combustibles (Guideline 7).
What about Burlington?
Burlington's Open-air Burning By-law 065-2019 counts outdoor fireplaces as open-air burning, which is not permitted in urban areas. Designated rural areas can get a free permit online or at 905-637-9536. Gas-fuelled devices are permitted, except on apartment balconies or where condo rules prohibit them.
How does Oakville treat outdoor fireplaces?
By-law 2006-174 s. 1.1(h.1) defines an outdoor fireplace as a noncombustible structure designed to hold a fire for decorative or recreational purposes. Under s. 2.2(n), conditions (c), (f), (g) and (l) of s. 2.2 don't apply to it; the other s. 2.2 conditions, such as attending the fire and having an extinguishing agent on hand, still do.
Can an outdoor fireplace burn gas instead?
Yes. A gas burner set into the firebox gets the same look. Hamilton allows propane and natural gas fire features without an Open Air Burning Permit (July 2021), and Burlington permits gas devices. The line is run by a licensed gas technician, and the burner needs a certification to ANSI Z21.97 / CSA 2.41 and its manual's clearances.
Why does an outdoor fireplace need a footing?
The firebox and chimney are heavy masonry. A reinforced concrete footing, sized by the design, carries that weight so the structure stays plumb through freeze-thaw. It's the first thing we build after excavation.
What lines the firebox?
Heat-rated firebrick lines the inside of the firebox, and a hearth sits in front of the opening. The block walls form the firebox and the base of the chimney, then the chimney is capped and the whole structure is finished in stone veneer.
How close can it be to the house?
Placement and clearances come from the manufacturer's manual or code, whichever is greater. For rural Hamilton wood-burning fireplaces, the guidelines call for 3 m clearance from buildings and combustibles (Guideline 7). Gas units follow their certified burner manual.
What does an outdoor fireplace cost?
We don't have an Ontario figure. US data from Lawn Love puts the average at $3,000, prefab units at $1,200–$8,335 and custom masonry or stone at $6,000–$21,000 (Dec 2025, USD). Ontario pricing depends on size and finish; we quote after a site visit.
Start with the yard
Plan your outdoor fireplace with the patio around it.
Tell us your city and what you'd like to burn. We'll check the rules for your lot and arrange a free on-site consultation.
Get a free quote
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