Can I burn today in Fort Erie?

Restriction on burning — exempt fires only unless permitted

No person shall set or maintain an Open-Air Fire except an Exempt fire as described in "Section 4, Exempt Fires".

Campfire/Chiminea exemption conditions

With the permission of the Owner, a Chiminea or campfire on privately owned lands are permitted, provided that: ... the fire is not burned on any Smog Day, during a Heat Alert, rainy or foggy weather, or when the winds exceed 20 kilometres per hour, the fire is located in a Back-Yard, the fire is no closer than 4 metres to the property line, and no closer than 3 metres to any Combustible Structure, and the fire is attended at all times by a Responsible Person to supervise it.

Burning Permit — material and setback limits

Any piles of materials to be burned: shall not exceed 9 square metres in area and 2 metres in height unless specifically Approved under application of a Burning Safety Plan, all adjacent piles of materials to be burned shall be at least 15 metres apart from each other... fires must be located at least 30 metres away from any Building, Combustible Structure, Combustible vegetation... fires must be located at least 250 metres away from any occupied Building when the wind direction is such that ... smoke from the fire is likely to pass in the vicinity of the occupied Building.

Permit application timeline and expiry

Applicants for a Burning Permit must apply at least 14 calendar days before the permit may be issued to allow time for the Fire Chief to inspect the site of the proposed burn. No Burning Permit will be issued without a site inspection. ... A Burning Permit shall have an expiry date of no later than needed by the Applicant to complete the burn, but in any case, no later than six (6) months after the date of issue.

Automatic suspension — smog day and wind

All Burning Permits are automatically suspended on any Smog Day and holders of Burning Permits are responsible for keeping informed of such days. All Burning Permits are automatically suspended during such periods and in such areas where gusting or sustained wind speeds exceed 20 kilometres per hour or where wind directions are changing frequently.

Fees

Fees and charges associated with this by-law are as established by Fees and Charges By-law No. 40-09, as amended. The fee collected for each Burning Permit is non-refundable regardless of whether or not the privileges granted under the permit have been exercised.