Can I burn today in Grimsby?

Universal permit requirement

The setting or maintaining of an Open Air Fire within the geographical limits of the Town is prohibited, unless the Fire Chief has approved the Open Air Fire through the issuance of a permit under this By-law.

Cooking-fire and appliance exemptions — no permit needed

This By-law does not apply to Open Air Burning that consists of a small, confined fire that is: (a) Used to cook food on a grill, barbecue or spit; (b) Commensurate with the type and quantity of food being cooked; and (c) Supervised at all times by a Competent Person. This By-law does not apply to the use of an Appliance that meets the requirements of the Technical Standards and Safety Act, 2000...

Five permit types

The Fire Chief may, following his or her receipt and review of an Open Air Fire permit application ... issue one of the following permits, as applicable: (a) Farm Fire Permit; (b) Urban Fire Permit; (c) Rural Fire Permit; (d) Special Events Permit; or (e) Campground Fire Permit.

Farm Fire Permit conditions (Schedule A)

Every person who sets or maintains an Open Air Fire under the authority of a Farm Fire Permit shall: (a) Restrict the time ... to between sunrise and sunset...; (b) Maintain a perimeter around the Open Air Fire of at least 5 metres...; (c) Confine the Open Air Fire to a single Fire Pit or pile that does not exceed 6 metres in diameter and the material being burned does not exceed 2 metres in height...; (d) Maintain a distance of not less than 60 metres from the Open Air Fire to any building, structure, fence, property line, Highway, railway, overhead wire or combustible material.

Urban Fire Permit conditions (Schedule B)

8.1 An Urban Fire Permit shall not be valid for any property with a lot size that is less than 12 metres in width. 8.2 ... (a) Confine the Open Air Fire to a Fire Pit or Outdoor Fireplace of no greater than 61 centimetres in diameter... (c) Restrict the time ... to between the hours of 4 p.m. and 11 p.m. on any day; (d) Maintain a distance of not less than 6 metres from the Open Air Fire to an adjacent property or Highway.

Sensitive Receptor Registry — permit refusal zone

An Open Air Fire permit shall not be issued for any property where the fire location is within 75 metres of the dwelling of a person that is registered on the Sensitive Receptor Registry.

Ban declaration

The Fire Chief may declare a ban on all Open Air Fires whenever, in the opinion of the Fire Chief, a lack of precipitation or other condition(s) within the Town increases the risk of the spread of fire or would otherwise endanger the health and safety of any person or the quality of the natural environment.

General prohibitions — wind and smog

No person shall set or maintain, or allow to be set or maintained, an Open Air Fire ... (e) When the wind velocity is twenty (20) kilometres per hour or greater; (f) During rainy or foggy weather, or when a smog alert or an air quality advisory has been issued by an appropriate Provincial or Federal agency...

Fee schedule (Schedule F)

Open Air Fire Permit Application Fee - Farm: No Charge. - Urban: $35.40 + HST. - Rural: $35.40 + HST. - Campground: $35.40 + HST. - Specific Event: $35.40 + HST. - on-line: $25.00 + HST + transaction fee. Fee for fire department personnel, vehicles, apparatus, and equipment to respond to investigate or to extinguish an Open Air Fire: $775.00 per hour or part thereof per vehicle (Minimum 1 hour).