Can I burn today in North Bay?
North Bay’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
- North Bay
- Observed
- 4:00 AM EDT Thursday 10 September 2026 · rating measured at the centre of Nipissing District, which covers a wide area
A rating is not permission. North Bay requires a permit, and a fire ban can be declared at any time. North Bay Fire and Emergency Services decides — not this page.
Date of issue to end of calendar year
Date of issue to end of calendar year
Date of issue to end of calendar year
Start an application online at secure.cityofnorthbay.ca/MyNorthBay-Blazor/BurningPermit or apply in person at the Customer Service Centre (200 McIntyre Street East)
The application is not valid until a physical permit copy is issued
Renters need written owner permission
'grandfathered' permits from previous years can be renewed by phone.
General prohibition (Section 3.1)
No person shall set, maintain, or cause or permit to be set or maintained, an open air fire within the City, except as permitted under this By-Law.
Permit required (Section 3.2)
No person shall set, maintain, or cause or permit to be set or maintained, an open air fire without a current valid permit. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, this includes recreational open air fires being conducted in an open air burning device.
Hours of Burning, as amended (Section 3.3, replaced by By-Law 2022-17 s.3)
Where a fire is permitted under this By-Law, it shall only be permitted between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 12:00 a.m. No person shall set, maintain, or cause or permit to be set or maintained, an open air fire outside of these hours.
Fire Bans (Section 3.4)
Notwithstanding any other provisions of this By-Law, the Chief Fire Official may impose a municipal fire ban prohibiting all open air fires for the whole or any part of the City, when weather or other conditions so warrant, for any period of time as the Chief Fire Official deems necessary.
Smog alert prohibition (Section 3.6(3))
No person shall set, maintain, or cause or permit to be set or maintained, an open air fire when a smog alert has been issued by the Ontario Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change for an area that includes the City.
Weather/rain-fog condition (Section 3.6(2))
No person shall set, maintain, or cause or permit to be set or maintained, an open air fire when there is rain or fog.
Recreational open air fire wind limit (Section 5.4)
No person shall set, maintain, or cause or permit to be set or maintained a recreational open air fire when there is a wind exceeding 15 kilometres per hour.
Non-recreational open air fire wind limit (Section 6.2)
No person shall set, maintain, or cause or permit to be set or maintained a non-recreational open air fire when there is a wind exceeding 20 kilometres per hour.
Recreational device size (Section 5.2(a))
ensure that the fire is contained in an open air burning device with a dimension not greater than 61 centimetres by 61 centimetres or a volume not greater than 0.26 cubic metres.
Barbecue exemption, as amended (Part 9, replaced by By-Law 2022-17 s.4)
Without limiting the generality of Part 8, the provisions of this By-Law do not apply to the use of a barbecue, whether gas fired or designed or intended to use charcoal, briquettes or other fuel.
Permit validity (Section 4.4(2))
A permit is valid on the date of issue and for the balance of the calendar year in which the permit is issued, unless otherwise specified on the permit.
Penalty (Section 11.2(1))
Every person who is found guilty of an offence under this By-Law is liable to a fine up to $100,000.
A live readout of air quality, wind and fire danger for North Bay — 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 — North Bay Fire and Emergency Services decides.