The Ontario Building Code | Clearance to the Fireplace Opening
9.22.9.1. Clearance to the fireplace Opening
(1) Combustible material shall not be placed on or near the face of a fireplace within 150 mm of the fireplace opening, except that where the combustible material projects more than 38 mm out from the face of the fireplace above the opening, such material shall be at least 300 mm above the top of the opening.
In Plain Language
A minimum clearance to combustible materials must be maintained around the fireplace opening, as set out in this article, preventing heat from the fire from igniting nearby materials.
This is a plain-language summary of the 2012/2017 Ontario Building Code text above, for general understanding only and not a substitute for the Code. Always confirm current requirements against the 2024 edition (O.Reg. 163/24) or a qualified professional before construction.