Open-air burning is not permitted in urban areas in the City of Burlington. Open-air burning is a fire hazard and poses a risk to nearby homes, sheds, decks and landscape material. It is only allowed in designated rural areas.
If you live within a designated open-air burning area, you need to have an Open-Air Burning Permit before burning.
Apply for an open-air burn permit
Request an open-air burning permit
You can submit a request for a free open-air burning permit or contact us at 905-637-9536 to request one.
| What qualifies as open-air burning? |
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Chimneys, fire pits, and outdoor fireplaces are considered open-air burning. Permits will only be issued for camp fires, cooking fires and open-air burning of leaves, brush, wood or other approved material. Burning garbage or petroleum-based products such as tires, shingles or plastics is strictly prohibited. Due to the impact of open-air burning on our health and environment, burning brush should be considered a last resort. We encourage rural (and urban) residents to take their unwanted brush to the Halton Waste Management Site. Mulching or recycling are also preferred options, if possible. |
| Burn site inspections |
| A Fire Prevention Inspector will conduct a burn site inspection for all new open-air burning permit requests. Once we have received your permit request, we will schedule a burn site inspection. Provided you remain the property owner, any new and renewed permits issued after 2020 will not expire, with the exception of North Aldershot. Annual burn site inspections are not required unless the site location has changed. Permit holders are not required to call the Burlington Fire Department before or after burning. |
North Aldershot open-air burning permit pilot project
As part of a pilot project, residents in North Aldershot can apply for an open-air burning permit between March 1, 2021 and Dec. 31, 2022. All permits require a site visit and approval from the fire department. Permits are valid only for the length of the pilot project.
Permits can be cancelled at any time at the discretion of the Burlington Fire Department.
Outdoor fire device exceptions
While fires of any kind are not permitted within the urban areas of Burlington, there are exceptions.
| Outdoor cooking fires |
| Open-air burning that consists of a small, confined fire used to cook food on a grill, barbeque or spit is permitted. The fire must be supervised at all times and must be appropriately sized for the type and amount of food being cooked. Units designed for cooking must be used for that purpose only and must be extinguished immediately after cooking. |
| Natural gas and propane units |
| Fire tables or bowls, chimineas and other outdoor burning devices that use propane or natural gas as fuel are permitted. They do not produce smoke or odours that can irritate neighbours. They are not permitted on apartment building balconies or where prohibited by condominium corporation rules. |
Make a complaint
If you suspect open-air burning in a non-designated area or would like to make a complaint about an active fire, please contact us at 905-637-8253.
You will be asked to provide your phone number and the location of the burning. This information is confidential and is only used if the responding firefighters require more details to locate the burning. We will dispatch an emergency response vehicle to deal with the issue and your call will remain anonymous. If required, we will extinguish the fire and give the person a written notice to stop future burning. The property owner may have to pay fees and charges under the Ontario Fire Code.
Smog alert days and fire bans
Burning may be suspended due to local smog advisories or dry weather. If you are unsure, please contact us at 905-637-8253.
The use of any open flame devices is discouraged during these conditions, including:
- Barbecues
- Candles
- Patio torches
- Propane or natural gas fire pits
- Weed torches
Open-air burning bylaw and governance
Open-air burning is governed under the jurisdiction of the Ontario Fire Code.
Review our Open-air Burning Bylaw (By-law 065-2019) to learn more about how we regulate burning and issue burning permits.