Mid Ulster District Council has vote to introduce a bonfire licensing system.
Sinn Féin and the SDLP joined forces to push the new policy through when the council held its full monthy council meeting on Thursday.
It is believed to be the fist time a local council has backed such a scheme.
The policy had already received backing from the council’s environment committee earlier this month.
The council wants to force bonfires organisers to ensure that “no hazardous or toxic materials are collected, stored or burned”.
They will also have to ensure that “no flags, emblems or effigies are burned”.
Details of the ground breaking move were revealed by the Irish News on Thursday.
The proposal to regulate pyres comes after the council set up a Bonfire Working Group last year.
A report published by the council then said it spent more than £17,500 clearing up pyre sites in June and July.
It also revealed that there are currently eight bonfires held on council land across the district.
The council removed tyres from several sites in Cookstown ahead of last year's Eleventh Night fires.
Unionist have reacted angrily to the move.
DUP councillor Paul McLean said the policy is not necessary.
“Leading is always better than driving,” he said.
“Such a dictatorial approach will damage community relations and will confirm for many unionists that the Sinn Féin controlled Mid Ulster council has zero consideration for their culture.”
UUP councillor Trevor Wilson said any new system may not solve problems around bonfires.
“Make no mistake about it, if we go down the line of bonfires being licensed by Sinn Fein/SDLP it won`t solve the issues which we all want to address,” he said.
Nationalists have defended the council decision.
Sinn Féin Councillor Brian McGuigan said it was important for the council to be proactive around bonfires.
“This is not about downgrading anyone’s culture - we as a council have a responsibility to ensure that proper, considered protocol is always followed, and that the health and safety of all involved is taken into account.”
SDLP councillor Christine McFlynn also welcomed the decision.
“They are entitled to celebrate their culture but they have to do it is a manner that is safe," she said.
Independent councillor Barry Monteith said a solution needed to be found.
“This needed sorted out and in the absence of any better solution I don’t see any better way to ensure emblems and flags are not burned,” he said.
PSNI Chief Inspector Mervyn Seffen said: “Although police have no legislative powers to remove bonfires or waste which has been illegally disposed at sites, we will support other statutory bodies carrying out their role if requested to do so."
