Burn Permits

General Open Air Fire Permits will not be issued to properties located within the Port Perry Urban area, a hamlet or a residential cluster.

General burning shall not be started earlier than one-half hour before sunrise and must be extinguished one-half hour before sunset.

General open air burning is for burning brush and wood. General open air burn sites must:

• Be a maximum of 1 m³ (3ft by 3ft by 3ft) in size.
• Be at least 15 m (50 ft) away from any structure, trailer, tent, flammable source, overhead wire, fence lines, trees, brush piles, property lines or combustible material of any nature whatsoever that could be ignited by flame, sparks or heat radiating from said fire.
• Be at least 15 m (50 ft) away from flammable vegetation in all directions.
• Have a means to extinguish the fire.
• Be attended by a capable adult at all times.

Recreational burns are small campfires for burning wood for recreational purposes. This type of burning is allowed between the hours of 4:00 p.m. and 12:00 midnight.

Recreational burn sites must:

• Have a base size no larger than sixty (60) centimeters in diameter.
• Be at least 5 m (16.5 ft) away from any structure, trailer, tent, flammable source, overhead wire, fence lines, trees, brush piles, property lines or combustible material of any nature whatsoever that could be ignited by flame, sparks or heat radiating from said fire.
• Have a means to extinguish the fire.
• Be attended by a capable adult at all times.
• Be extinguished by midnight.

Agricultural burning permits can be issued to registered farms that are required to burn as part of their "normal farming practices". 

Agricultural burn permit applications are approved on a case-by-case basis, and typically require a site visit to inspect the burn site. 

Agricultural burning must adhere to the following provisions:

• The size of the burn may be no larger than 5 m in diameter by 5 m high.
• Only one pile is permitted to be burned at a time. 
• Burning is allowed between the hours of one half hour after sunrise until one half hour of sunset.
• Burning is allowed only when a competent adult (18 years of age or older) is present to supervise the fire.
• A means of extinguishment must be at the fire at all times (e. direct access to water, tractor, excavator, etc).
• Burning must be located 30 m from any structure, trailer, tent, flammable source, overhead wire, fence lines, trees, brush piles, property lines, or combustible nature.
• Flammable vegetation within 30 m radius of fire shall be cleared.
• Fires are not permitted which cause smoke or fire damage to any property and/or decrease visibility or create a hazard on any public or private roadway.
• No fires are permitted when weather conditions limit the rapid dissipation of smoke; during dry or arid conditions or when weather conditions could create a fire hazard or during a smog advisory or alert.
• This burn permit allows for the burning of wood and/or brush only. No building or demolition materials, petroleum products, plastic, rubber, household garbage, materials normally collected under the recycling and yard waste collection programs, or any other material that may cause toxic or excessive smoke or odour is permitted.

An oversize open air fire may be permitted at the discretion of the Fire Chief, where such open air fire is to be located on lands that are a minimum of ten (10) acres in size, and the applicant has entered into a written agreement with the Fire Chief.

In addition to the general restrictions of the Open-Air Burning By-Law, oversize burning must adhere to the following conditions:

• No fire shall cause smoke damage or fire damage to any property.
• No fire shall decrease visibility or create a hazard on any public or private roadway.
• Material must be burned in one pile that is less than 25 metres square and less than 5 metres high.
• The fire shall be a minimum of thirty (30) meters from any structure, trailer, tent, flammable source, overhead wire, fence lines, trees, brush piles, property lines or combustible material of any nature whatsoever that could be ignited by flame, sparks or heat radiating from said fire.
• All flammable vegetation or materials within a 30 metre radius of the fire shall be cleared.
• The person to whom the Permit is issued or another responsible person identified in the Permit shall tend to the fire until it is extinguished.
• No fire shall be started earlier than one-half hour before sunrise and must be extinguished one-half hour before sunset.
• No other Provincial or Township burn bans are in effect. 
• No person shall burn any material that is normally collected under the Municipality’s garbage, blue box or yard waste collection programs.

Scugog Fire and Emergency Services will issue a burn ban when there is very dry weather or poor air quality in the community. A spring burn ban is imposed annually. This ban is put in place to allow time for dead grass and brush to turn green again following a dormant period over the winter. Though the ground may be saturated, or still frozen, the dead vegetation can burn easily and fire can spread rapidly. This ban is important for the protection of people, property and first responders. 

Burn ban notices will appear on our website and in the local media. The notice will let you know which types of burning are banned. These burn bans are for your safety and we ask that you follow them.

Under Part 4 Enforcement and Penalties of the Open-Air Burning By-law 32-18, those having a fire during a burn ban can be charged under the Provincial Offences Act and will also be responsible for the costs of all work performed

To subscribe to burn ban alerts, please visit our Township news subscription page.

Please note that only wood and/or brush are to be burned. As per the Open-Air Burning by-law, no person shall burn any material that is normally collected under the municipality’s garbage, blue box or yard waste collection programs. Furthermore, no person shall burn petroleum products, plastic, rubber, household garbage, building material, demolition material or wood by-products.

Guidelines for all burning are included in the e-mail you receive confirming that your burn permit application has been processed. If the 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. 

Find frequently asked questions below.

2024 general and/or recreational burn permits cost $54. Oversize burn permits cost $168. Burn permits are valid for the calendar year in which they are issued.

Only property owners can apply for a burn permit. A tenant, worker or family member wishing to apply for a burn permit must submit written authorization from the property owner.

Yes, campfires are "recreational burns" under the Open-Air Burning By-law and require a burn permit.

Chimineas are "contained recreational burns" under the Open-Air Burning By-law. You must obtain a Recreational Burn Permit.

No, all burn permits are automatically activated for the year they are issued in.

You won't be charged, if you have a burn permit and follow Scugog's Open Air Burning By-law. If the smoke for your burn causes issues for your neighbour, you will be asked to put out your fire.

If you are not following the Open-Air Burning By-law, you will have to pay the fees for services (cost of trucks and personnel to respond to the complaint about your burn). You may also be charged under the By-law.

If you have concern about a burn, call 9-1-1, ask for the Fire Department and explain the situation. Your name will not be released.

Burn barrels are permitted to be use if you have obtained a general open air fire permit. General Open Air Fire Permits will not be issued to properties located within the Port Perry Urban area, a hamlet or a residential cluster.

As per the Open-Air Burning By-Law, "burn barrel" means:

• A metal barrel in sound condition, no larger than a 45-gallon drum.
• Fitted with a heavy-duty screen with mesh (size not greater than 7mm) over the top to prevent debris from flying out of the barrel. 
• Vent holes must be punched in the side for ventilation, and drainage holes in the bottom with adequate clearance from surrounding vegetation or structures.  

 As per the Open-Air Burning By-Law, "Port Perry Urban Area" means:

• the area as outlined in Schedule A1 of the Official Plan of the Township of Scugog. 

As per the Open-Air Burning By-Law, "Hamlet" means: 

• lands within the boundaries of Blackstock, Caesarea, Epsom, Greenbank, Manchester, Nestleton, Nestleton Station, Seagrave and Utica as identified on Schedule A of the Official Plan of the Township of Scugog. 

As per the Open-Air Burning By-Law, "Residential Cluster" means: 

• settlement areas of a smaller scale than “hamlets” as identified on Schedule A of the Official Plan of the Township of Scugog.

If you live within the Port Perry Urban Area, a Hamlet, or a Residential Cluster, you will only be approved for recreational burning, provided that your property meets the required setbacks. General burning is not permitted in these areas. 

If you live in a rural area, you can apply for both a recreational and general permit at no additional cost. 

If you have an agricultural operation, you can apply for a recreational and/or general permit in addition to your agricultural permit. Regular permit fees will apply for recreational and/or general burning conducted outside of "normal farming practices". 

Recreational burning is only permitted between the hours of 4:00 p.m. and 12:00 midnight. 

General, oversize and agricultural burning is permitted one-half hour before sunrise and must be extinguished one-half hour before sunset.

General burning is not permitted in the Port Perry Urban Area, a Hamlet, or a Residential Cluster as defined by the Official Plan of the Township of Scugog. This means that there should be no daytime burning in these areas.

GIS mapping has been applied to the software to allow applications for General or Recreational burns to be approved by automation without needing to wait.  Applications for Oversize or Agricultural burns are reviewed by the Fire Prevention Division before being approved.