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
- Peterborough
- Observed
- 5:00 PM EDT Wednesday 9 September 2026 · rating measured at the centre of Northumberland County, which covers a wide area
A rating is not permission. Hamilton requires a permit, and a fire ban can be declared at any time. Township of Hamilton Fire Department decides — not this page.
Annual
Annual
Per open fire / project (fire area > 2 cubic metres or daytime burning)
Annual
Apply for the appropriate Residential/Agricultural/Commercial/Campground Burn Permit via the Township's burnpermits.com portal (ht.burnpermits.com) or in person (Fire Administration, 2598 Van Luven Road, Baltimore)
No daytime burning 8am-6pm, April 1-October 31
Notify the Fire Department before agricultural/commercial daytime burns
Small fires in an approved burn barrel, enclosed device, or cooking pit may proceed without a permit under Section 3.07.
Permit required (Section 2.02(i))
No person shall set or cause to be set or permit to be set an open fire in the Township : (i) Without obtaining one of the three appropriate burn permits being residential, agricultural, or commercial for their property and filing the same with the Township of Hamilton.
Weather / smog alert prohibitions (Section 2.06)
No person shall set an open fire: (i) under weather conditions that limit the rapid dissipation of smoke; (ii) when wind may cause unsafe conditions that may result in fire spread; (iii) under extremely dry or arid conditions (iv) under smog alert conditions (v) when the Fire Chief has placed a ban on open fires.
Residential Burn Permit (Section 3.03)
an annual residential burn permit is required for all open-air burns and shall not exceed one cubic metre and shall be kept a safe distance (greater than 5 metres) from any combustibles, structures, or buildings, unless otherwise approved by the Fire Chief or his/her designate... (i) No daytime burning between 08:00AM & 6:00PM annually, 7 days per week including holidays from April 1 to October 31.
No permit required exemption (Section 3.07)
A person may have an open fire without obtaining a permit provided the following. The fire area is supervised at all times by an adult person, the fire area does not violate any other laws, by-laws, rules or regulations passed by any competent authority or otherwise and/or providing no other Township - wide or provincial burn bans are in effect and the following conditions are met...
Burn hours restriction (Section 4.01)
No daytime burning between 08:00AM & 6:00PM annually, 7 days per week including holidays from April 1 to October 31.
Fee deferral (Section 3.02)
open air burning permits are subject to fees outlined in the Establish Fees and Charges By-Law. The fee(s) collected for each burning permit is non refundable regardless of whether or not the privileges granted under this by-law and burning permit have been exercised. No adjustment or refund of fee shall be provided due to suspension or revocation of any burning permit.
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 — Township of Hamilton Fire Department decides.