Burn Permits

 What is a Recreational Burn Permit?

• Must have a base size no larger 1 x 1 x 1 metre / 1 cubic metre or 3.3 x 3.3 x 3.3 feet
• Must be at least 5 m (16 ft) away from any structure
• Must be at least 15 m (50 ft) away from property line, any overhead wire or roadway
• Must be at least 5 m (16 ft) away from flammable vegetation in all directions
• Permit cost is $25

 What is an Open-Air Burn Permit?

• Must not exceed 3 m x 3 m x 3 m / 27 cubic metres or (9.8 feet x 9.8 feet x 9.8 feet)
• Must be a minimum radius of 7.5 metres (24.5 feet) around burn site from cleared vegetation
• Must be a minimum of 15 metres (50 feet) away from the property line,

• street/road/highway, any overhead wires, all structures, trees and hedges

• Permit cost $30

 What is an Over Sized Burn Permit?

• Must not exceed 6 x 6 x 6 metres / 216 cubic metres or (19.7 x 19.7 x 19.7 feet)
• Must be a minimum radius of 7.5 metres (24.5 feet) around burn site clear of vegetation
• Must be a minimum of 30 metres (100 feet) away from the property line,
• street/road/highway, any overhead wires, all structures, trees, and hedges
• Must be located on at least 10 acres of land
• Limited to burning between the hours of 0800 and 1800 hours daily
• Fires must be out after 1800 hours (6:00 p.m.)
• A piece of large equipment must be on-site and available for use
• Permit cost $75

 How do I know if there is a Burn Ban in effect?

• Burn ban notices will appear on our website and in the local media.
• These burn bans are for your safety and we ask that you follow them.
• Those having a fire during a burn ban can be fined and will also be responsible for the costs of all work performed.

 What happens when someone makes a Burn Complaint?

• Guidelines for all burning are included on your burn permit.
• When Fire and Emergency Services responds to complaints about burning and they find you are not following these rules, you may be charged for the services used to respond to the complaint, including trucks and staff costs.
• We also have the right to revoke your burn permit, if necessary.
• Be a good neighbour and make sure that smoke from your burn is not drifting on to others' property. Your neighbours have a right to complain about your burn if the smoke is causing an issue on their property. 
• If you need to file a burn complaint, please dial 9-1-1 to reach our dispatch and it will be addressed accordingly.

Burning safety

Important reminders for residents:

• Rural residents require an approved burn permit before burning
• There is no open air burning in the urban area
• Even with a valid burn permit, it is your responsibility to check if a Burn Ban is in affect before burning

Spring and summer can be a dangerous time to burn due to the amount of dry vegetation after the snow melts and during dry summers.

• Burn during the coolest, dampest and calmest time of the day.
• Check your burn permit for required distances from structures, roads, property lines and other flammable vegetation
• Make sure burn area is surrounded by a fire break boundary, such as a road, wet ditch or ploughed ground.
• A responsible adult must always be present to tend the fire, keep it under control, and extinguish it before leaving the site.
• Keep adequate tools, machinery and water on hand to control the fire if it begins to spread.
• If the fire starts to spread beyond the burn pile, call 9-1-1 immediately.