Can I burn today in Hamilton?
Hamilton’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
- Hamilton West
- Observed
- 5:00 AM EDT Thursday 10 September 2026 · rating measured at the centre of City of Hamilton, which covers a wide area
A rating is not permission. Hamilton requires a permit, and a fire ban can be declared at any time. Hamilton Fire Department – Fire Prevention Division decides — not this page.
Date of issue to end of calendar year issued
A small, confined, supervised cooking fire on a grill or barbecue, or an outdoor propane/natural gas fire pit, needs no permit. For any other open air burning (Standard Fire, Recreational Campfire, or Outdoor Fireplace), the property owner (or someone with the owner's written authorization) applies in person at any Municipal Service Centre (e.g. Hamilton City Hall – 71 Main Street West
Ancaster, Glanbrook, Stoney Creek, Dundas, or Flamborough Municipal Service Centres)
Pay the $31.40 fee
The permit is mailed (and emailed if an address is provided). Burning is permitted only in rural-designated areas per the City's current Official Plan-based policy.
Permit required (Section 4.1)
No person shall cany out, or permit a person to carry out on property of whch he or she is the owner or occupant, any open air burning unless that person is the holder of a current Permit authorizing that burning to take place.
Cooking/barbecue exemption (Section 4.2)
Section 4.1 does not apply where the open air burning consists of a small, confined fire, supervised at all times, and used to cook food on a grill or a barbecue.
Smog alert prohibition (Section 4.3)
No open air burning shall be carried out at a time when a smog alert or smog advisory is in effect within the City or any part of the City, other than an open air burning withn the scope of section 4.2.
Permit eligibility (Section 2.1)
Any person eighteen years of age or over, who is the owner or occupant of a property within the City, or who has been authorized in writing by the owner or occupant of such property, may apply to the Fire Department for a Permit to conduct an open air burning.
Urban boundary inspection requirement (Section 2.4)
Where the proposed site at which an open air burning is to be conducted is within the urban boundary of the City as defined in the Regional Official Plan, no Permit shall be issued unless the Fire Department has carried out an inspection of the proposed site to determine whether the burn can be safely conducted without nuisance or risk to neighboring properties, the proof of which shall lie on the applicant.
Permit validity (Section 2.6)
A Permit issued under this section is valid on the date of issue and for the balance of the calendar year in which the permit is issued.
Permit not transferable (Section 2.10)
A Permit issued under this By-law is not transferable.
Maximum fire size and setbacks (Approval Guideline #5–6, attached to original Permit)
All fires must be kept to a maximum size of 2m x 2m x I m in height, unless otherwise approved by the Chief Fire Official. Recreational campfires must be kept to a maximum size of 0.6m in diameter and must be confined (i.e. steel tire rim, bricks, stone). With the exception of recreational campfires and outdoor fireplaces, open air burning within 30m of any building or other combustible material shall not be permitted. Recreational campfires and outdoor fireplaces must have a minimum 3m clearance to any building or combustible material.
Smog Alert threshold defined (Approval Guideline #10)
Open air burning shall not be carried out on Smog Alert days as declared by the City of Hamilton. Smog Alert days are declared when the Air Quality Index is expected to reach 50, a level that can impact the health of citizens.
Emergency response cost recovery (Approval Guideline #14)
All persons setting an open fire shall be liable for costs incurred by the Hamilton Emergency Services - Fire for an emergency response to any address in violation of the guidelines or investigations of burning complaints of illegal burning. These costs include $350 per hour for each responding vehicle for the 1' hour and $175 per !4 ' hour for each responding vehicle thereafter.
Nuisance prohibition (Section 3.4)
No person shall conduct an open air burning in a manner that creates a nuisance, taking into account all associated noise, smoke, sparks and other dangers relating to the spread of fire, the risk of explosion, and risk of death, injury and damage to property inherent in the conduct of a fire.
A live readout of air quality, wind and fire danger for Hamilton — 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 — Hamilton Fire Department – Fire Prevention Division decides.