Woods Restrictions Lifted Except in Annapolis County

Restrictions on travel and activities in the woods are lifted in all remaining counties except Annapolis as of 4 p.m. today, September 18.

The change applies to Cumberland, Hants, Lunenburg, Kings, Queens, Shelburne, Digby and Yarmouth counties. Restrictions were lifted in the other nine counties previously.

The restrictions will remain in place in Annapolis County until October 15 – regarded as the end of wildfire season – or until conditions allow them to be lifted.

“We’ve looked at improving conditions and also at the impact these necessary restrictions have had on businesses, which we’ve tried to minimize all along,” said Natural Resources Minister Tory Rushton. “We’re at a point where, for both reasons, it’s time to lift these restrictions everywhere except Annapolis County, where crews are continuing to fight the Long Lake wildfire.”

The burn ban remains in place for the entire province until October 15 or until conditions improve further.

The fine for violating the woods restrictions or burn ban is $25,000.

Quick Facts:

• decisions on restricting woods access are based on data modelling that measures how much dry, flammable material has built up that could easily start a fire
• the woods restrictions were put in place August 5 through a proclamation under the Forests Act; the provincewide ban on open fires started on July 30
• people with questions about the restrictions can call their local Department of Natural Resources office
• in counties where the woods restrictions have been lifted, hunting season will proceed as usual
• in Annapolis County, hunting in non-wooded, open spaces (such as fields) can go ahead as usual; if getting to the open space requires a short trip down a trail, that is fine

Additional Resources:

Woods restrictions proclamation updated September 18: https://novascotia.ca/natr/forestprotection/wildfire/woods-proclamation_2025-09-18.pdf

News release – Woods Restrictions to be Lifted in Pictou, Colchester Counties: https://news.novascotia.ca/en/2025/09/11/woods-restrictions-be-lifted-pictou-colchester-counties

News release – Woods Restrictions Lifted in Some Counties, Remain in Others: https://news.novascotia.ca/en/2025/08/29/woods-restrictions-lifted-some-counties-remain-others

News release – Travel, Activities in Woods Restricted to Prevent Wildfires: https://news.novascotia.ca/en/2025/08/05/travel-activities-woods-restricted-prevent-wildfires

News release – Provincewide Burn Ban in Effect: https://news.novascotia.ca/en/2025/07/30/provincewide-burn-ban-effect

Department of Natural Resources offices: https://novascotia.ca/natr/staffdir/offices_map.asp

Natural Resources on X: https://x.com/NS_DNR