Can I light a campfire in nature?
It depends on the place and the conditions — open fire is neither free nor entirely banned, but it is heavily restricted. Under Article 28 of the Nature Conservation Act no. 60/2013, it is prohibited to light a fire in the open where public danger may arise or where vegetation, wildlife or structures are at risk, and everyone travelling must exercise the utmost care with fire and cooking equipment. The myth that causes wildfires: that a campfire on moss is harmless because Iceland is wet. That is wrong — dry moss, heather and grass burn fast, and a fire in moss can smoulder unseen and flare up much later. Heather burning (burning vegetation off land) is specifically banned except with written permission from the district commissioner and only for farming purposes. On top of this, the Act on fire handling and wildfire prevention no. 40/2015 and regulation no. 325/2016 apply. In protected areas and national parks, open fire is often banned altogether.
📋 The rules
- Under Article 28 of Act no. 60/2013, it is prohibited to light a fire in the open where public danger may arise or where vegetation, wildlife or structures are at risk.
- Everyone travelling has a duty to exercise the utmost care with fire and cooking equipment, and anyone who notices a loose fire must call the fire brigade at once.
- Heather burning (burning grass or vegetation off land) is banned except with written permission from the district commissioner, only for farming purposes, and the burned area must be reported to the Environment Agency.
- In addition to the Nature Conservation Act, the Act on fire handling and wildfire prevention no. 40/2015 and regulation no. 325/2016 govern open fire outdoors.
- In protected areas and national parks (for example Thingvellir and Vatnajokull National Park) open fire is often banned altogether under the rules of the area.
🔓 Exceptions
- Using a camping stove or gas grill in a safe spot away from vegetation is generally fine if the utmost care is taken — the ban targets fire that threatens vegetation and structures.
- A landowner or farmer can obtain written permission from the district commissioner for heather burning for farming purposes; that is the only legal way to burn vegetation off land.
- At marked fire pits and barbecue spots on campsites and recreation areas, fire is allowed within those limits and the rules that apply there.
⚠️ Penalties & fines
A breach of the Article 28 ban on open fire carries a penalty under Article 90 of the Nature Conservation Act: fines or up to 2 years in prison. But the biggest consequence is liability for damage: a person who causes harm through negligent handling of fire bears liability for all the damage that results — and a wildfire can destroy dozens of hectares, summer houses and forestry, with costs running into millions of krona. On top of that, the cost of firefighting and rescue falls on the person who caused the fire. Heather burning without a permit from the district commissioner is a separate offence. The hidden cost few think about is that a fire in dry moss or heather can smoulder underground and flare up hours or days later, far from the person who lit it — but the liability still rests with them. Insurance does not necessarily cover damage from illegal or grossly negligent handling of fire.
📎 Official sources
- Althingi · Nature Conservation Act no. 60/2013 (Article 28) →
- Althingi · Act on fire handling and wildfire prevention no. 40/2015 →
- Ísland.is · Regulation no. 325/2016 on the handling of fire →
❓ Frequently asked
Can I light a campfire in Icelandic nature?
Only where no danger can arise — Article 28 of the Nature Conservation Act bans open fire where public danger may arise or vegetation, wildlife or structures are at risk. Dry moss and heather burn fast, so a campfire directly on vegetation is rarely safe, and in protected areas open fire is often banned altogether.
Can I use a camping stove or gas grill?
Yes, using a camping stove or gas grill in a safe spot away from vegetation is generally fine if the utmost care is taken. The ban targets fire that can threaten vegetation, wildlife or structures, so a closed cooking device on gravel or a marked fire pit is quite different from an open fire in moss.
Do I need permission to burn heather on my own land?
Yes, heather burning is banned unless the landowner or occupier holds written permission from the district commissioner and the purpose relates to farming. The burned area must also be reported to the Environment Agency, so this is not something you may do without notice even on your own land.
Who pays if I accidentally start a wildfire?
A person who causes harm through negligent handling of fire bears liability for all the damage that results under Article 28, and the cost of firefighting can also fall on them. A wildfire can destroy dozens of hectares, summer houses and forestry, so the compensation claim can run into millions of krona well beyond the fine itself.
Is open fire banned in national parks?
Often yes — in protected areas and national parks such as Thingvellir and Vatnajokull National Park, open fire is widely banned altogether under the rules of the area. Those rules override the general allowance, so it is worth checking what applies in the area before lighting any fire at all.
🔎 Common searches
What people search to land here:
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