Can I burn today in East Gwillimbury?
East Gwillimbury’s by-law does not set out what each fire danger rating allows, so this page cannot tell you whether today is a burning day. Today’s rating is beside this, and the fire hall below has the answer.
- Air quality (AQHI)
- 2 · Low risk
- Measured at
- Newmarket
- Observed
- 5:00 PM EDT Wednesday 9 September 2026 · rating measured at the centre of Regional Municipality of York, which covers a wide area
A rating is not permission. East Gwillimbury requires a permit, and a fire ban can be declared at any time. East Gwillimbury Emergency Services Department (Fire and Emergency Service) decides — not this page.
Calendar year; by-law's own 2002 Schedule B/C states $20.00, superseded by the Town's current $45.40/year fee
Calendar year
Calendar year; by-law's own 2002 Schedule B/C states $100.00, superseded by the Town's current $225.20/year fee
Per event; figure is from the by-law's own 2002 Schedule B/C ($500.00) -- no current live figure was found for this specific permit type
Obtain the Annual Fire Permit (Schedule A form) from the Emergency Services Department
Renters must have the property owner sign or provide written approval
Before each burn, activate the permit by phoning 905-478-3885 with the permit number, name, address and telephone number
Bona fide farmers may get a permit at no charge for routine farming burns.
Permit required (Part 1, Section 2)
No person shall set or maintain a fire, or permit one to be set or maintained, in the open air without first having obtained the necessary fire permit from the Emergency Services Department of the Town of East Gwillimbury.
Material and hours restrictions (Part 1, Section 4)
Except as noted below, no person shall: a) burn or permit to be burned in the open air more than one (1) cubic metre of material at any one time; or b) set or maintain a fire ... in the open air before sunrise or after sunset on any day without the approval of the Chief Fire Official, save and except a recreational fire; c) set or maintain a fire ... without having the means of extinguishing the fire designated in the permit on hand at the site of the fire during the entire time the fire is burning.
Setback (Part 1, Section 7)
No person shall set or maintain a fire, or permit one to be set or maintained, in the open air: a) on any street, lane, or other public property; or b) in front, side or rear yard of any commercial or industrial property unless specific approval of the Chief Fire Official or his designate is given; or c) less than 10 metres (32.8 feet) from any building, structure, vehicle, hedge, fence constructed of materials that may burn or melt, vehicular roadway, overhead wires, or any obstruction of any kind whatsoever that may burn or melt.
Wind conditions (Part 1, Section 8)
No person shall set or maintain a fire ... in the open air when there is a wind of sufficient strength to cause any one or more of the following: a) fire to spread through any grass or brush area; or b) smoke from the fire to blow across any highway, decreasing visibility on the highway; or c) any unpleasant odour or smoke from the fire to invade public or private property other than that on which the fire is burning, causing discomfort to any person on that property.
Weather / smog alert prohibition (Part 1, Section 9)
No person shall set or maintain a fire during rainy or foggy weather or at times when the appropriate Federal or Provincial agency has issued a smog alert.
Farmer exemption (Part 1, Section 10)
Notwithstanding any other provision in this By-law, the Chief Fire Official or his designate shall issue a fire permit without charge to any bona fide farmer who needs to burn vegetable matter or vegetation in the open air on farmlands so long as the farmer can show that he is carrying out a routine farming practice.
Recreational fire rules (Part 2, Section 1)
a. The fire may only be between 4 p.m. of one day and 1 a.m. of the following day; b. No material other than commercially produced charcoal, briquettes or clean, dry seasoned wood may be burned; c. Recreational burnings shall be confined to non-combustible containers or to a pit no larger than 61 centimetres (2 feet) by 61 centimetres (2 feet) in size ... e. The height of the fuel being burned shall not be greater than 61 centimetres (2 feet).
Fee schedule (Schedule "B"/"C", as passed 2002)
PERMIT / FEE -- Annual (Calendar Year) $20.00; Oversized Fire $100.00; Special Fire $500.00. VIOLATION CHARGES -- Charge for violation $515.00 (First Offence), $1,030.00 (Any Subsequent Offence).
A live readout of air quality, wind and fire danger for East Gwillimbury — free, for any municipality, customer or not. See it and get the link.
By-laws change. This page summarises public documents and is not legal advice or permission to burn — East Gwillimbury Emergency Services Department (Fire and Emergency Service) decides.