Open Air Burning Permits are Available Now
The Open Air Burn By-law #2022-13 separates open air burns into the six categories by the size of your open air burn and the required setbacks of non-combustibles on your property to limit the spread of fire and to protect the safety of persons, properties and surrounding neighbourhoods.
All permits will be registered using the website: Meaford.burnpermits.com
All burns are only permitted after receiving your permit number and a permit is to be obtained for each type of open air burn and only one fire is permitted to be actively burning at one time.
If you are having difficulty with the process or do not have regular access to a computer, we have options for you. Email fire@meaford.ca or call 519-538-1060 extension 1602 for support. You can also contact us to arrange an in-person appointment with a staff member at the Meaford Fire Hall, located at 81 Stewart Street, Meaford.
The Six Types of Open Air Burn Permits are:
Outdoor Fireplace, Fire Pit, Bonfire, Brush Fire, Controlled Fire and Demolition Fire.
Permits Automatically Approved:
- Outdoor Fireplace
- Fire Pit
Permits Requiring Approval:
(Properties must be over 1 acre of land)
- Bonfire
- Brush Fire
- Controlled Fire
- Demolition Fire
For further requirements for each type of burn, please visit the additional resources section below.
Create an Account - Meaford Burn Permits
General Provisions
All owners having an open air burn must ensure that:
- An annual burn permit is required to be obtained prior to any burning and all permits expire annually on December 31;
- The fire shall be in compliance to the required setbacks as to the type and size;
- Burn area location is not permitted in your front yard, unless approved by Chief Fire Official;
- Only clean and clear wood or by-products of clean clear wood are permitted;
- Household Waste is not permitted to be burned;
- Yard Waste is not permitted to be burned;
- Ground Cover is not to be burned, unless approved by the Chief Fire Official;
- No active burn when the wind speeds are greater than 20km/hour;
- No active burn when there is a smog alert;
- No active burn permitted when there is a fire ban in effect;
- No active fire can be a nuisance to neighbouring property owners;
- All owners operating a Bonfire, Brush Fire, Controlled or a Demolition fire are required to notify at the start of each burn.
For a Bonfire, Brush Fire, Controlled Fire and a Demolition Fire you will not receive permit number approval until it is reviewed by the Chief Fire Official. Once approved, you will receive confirmation with your permit number through Meaford.burnpermits.com. Any completed permits received Monday through Friday during regular business hours will be reviewed within 24 hours, and any completed permits received on Saturday or Sunday, will be reviewed the following business day.
Fire Pit |
An Open Air Fire that is greater than 0.8m (2.6ft) in diameter and 0.8m (2.6ft) in height but not greater than 1 cubic meter in diameter and is within an approved device enclosed on all sides and constructed of masonry, concrete, stone, heavy gauge metal or other non-combustible materials. Fire must be out by 1am unless property is over 1 acre. |
Outdoor Fireplace |
An Open Air Fire that is not greater than 0.8m (2.6ft) in diameter and 0.8m (2.6ft) in height and is within a manufactured non-combustible enclosed container such as fire bowls with spark arrestors on top or chimineas. Fire must be out by 1am unless property is over 1 acre. |
Bonfire |
An Open Air Fire that is greater then 1 cubic meter but is not greater than 2.2m (7ft) in length, by 2.2m (7ft) in width, by 2.2m (7ft) in height. This type of permit requires approval from the Chief Fire Official and you are required to notify at the start of each burn. Fire can only be conducted on a parcel of land over 1 acre and can burn at any time. |
Brush Fire |
An Open Air Fire that is greater than 2.2m (7ft) length, 2.2m (7ft) in width, and 2.2m (7ft) in height but is not greater than 3m (10ft) in length, by 3m (10ft) in width, by 3m (10ft) in height. This fire is for the sole purpose of burning wood, tree limbs and branches. This type of permit requires approval from the Chief Fire Official and you are required to notify at the start of each burn. Fire cannot be set, maintained or operated 2 hours prior to sunset. Fire can only be conducted on a parcel of land over 1 acre. |
Controlled Fire |
An Open Air Fire that is greater than 3m (10ft) in length, by 3m (10ft) in width, by 3m (10ft) in height but not greater than 6m (20ft) in length, by 6m (20ft) in width, by 6m (20ft) in height. This type of permit requires approval from the Chief Fire Official and you are required to notify at the start of each burn. Fire cannot be set, maintained or operated 2 hours prior to sunset. Fire can only be conducted on a parcel of land over 1 acre. |
Demolition Fire |
An Open Air Fire designed to remove a structure of only clean clear wood, with no indication of materials that are Household Waste, with an attached Building Permit to demolish the structure. This type of permit requires approval from the Chief Fire Official and you are required to notify at the start of each burn. Fire cannot be set, maintained or operated 2 hours prior to sunset. |
How do I Obtain a Permit? |
All permits shall be registered at meaford.burnpermits.com Looking for additional support in applying? Click here for step-by-step instructions on how to obtain a permit online. If you are having difficulty and/or not able to process the permit on-line, you may contact fire@meaford.ca or 519-538-2121 to help with the permit application process. For those requiring in-person assistance, please call 519-538-2121 to arrange an in-person appointment at 81 Stewart Street (Meaford Fire Hall). |
Responding to Calls |
Municipal Enforcement, Meaford Fire or Inter-Township Fire Department responds to open air burn concerns which may result in officers entering onto the property to conduct an investigation. If the burn is not in compliance, a charge may be issued to all persons responsible for the burn. Administration charges for the service may be applied and the individual responsible for the burn and may be required to extinguish or modify the active fire. If the responding fire department extinguishes or modifies the active fire, costs will be incurred at the owner’s expense. |
Frequently Asked Questions |
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