Idling

The City of Burlington has an Idling Control Bylaw (By-law 039-2016) that limits unnecessary idling to one minute. Please turn off your engine when you are waiting in your vehicle at schools, transit terminals, shopping malls or other locations in our community. You'll save fuel and reduce your impact on the environment.

Tickets for unnecessary idling are currently $120.

Report excessive idling

You can report excessive idling from Monday to Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. by calling Parking Services at 905-335-7777 or emailing city@burlington.ca. If you want to report idling after hours, contact Halton Regional Police's non-emergency line at 905-825-4777 and ask for dispatch.

For any unnecessary idling, officers need to observe the idling for one minute as per the idling control bylaw.

Idling signs

You can purchase an idling sign for your business or school by emailing us at environment@burlington.ca or calling 905-335-7777, ext. 7580 or ext. 7931.

Signs measure 12 by 18 inches (30 by 45 cm) and cost $30.65 plus HST. You can pick up your sign at City Hall to avoid shipping charges. Please note that signs state “Burlington Bylaw as amended” at the bottom right of the sign.

School campaign resources

We provide resources to schools for their idling awareness campaigns. These campaigns remind parents and caregivers to turn their engines off while waiting to pick up their children.

Email us at environment@burlington.ca or call us at 905-335-7777, ext. 7580 or ext. 7931 to request idling awareness resources, including:

• Banners (approximately 12 by 3 feet, two-week loan)
• Bookmarks
• Posters
• Stickers

Idling blog posts

Check out some idling awareness blog posts on Take Action Burlington:

• A back-to-school reminder for drivers
• Back to school eco-friendly tips
• Common idling myths
• Idling awareness in Burlington
• Idling bylaw still in effect
• Idling gets you nowhere. Turn your engines off! - May 2021
• Idling gets you nowhere. Turn your engines off! - January 2022

Idling tickets issued

View the number of idling tickets and warnings we have issues over the years.