Can I burn today in Oakville?

Prohibition - Open Air Burning (Section 2.1)

No person shall conduct, or permit to be conducted, an open air burning within the boundaries of the Town of Oakville unless: (a) Permission has been given by the Fire Chief hereunder; and (b) That person complies with all applicable regulations specified in this by-law;

Exception - Recreational Burning, hours and wind/weather/smog trigger (Section 2.2)

Permission is not required from the Fire Chief for open air burnings associated with the use of open burning devices or pits specifically designed for open air burnings, provided that each of the following regulations are complied with: (a) Open air burning may only be conducted between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m.; ... (j) open air burning is not permitted when the wind speed exceeds 30 kilometres per hour, or during rainy or foggy weather, or at times when a smog alert has been declared by the Ministry of the Environment for Ontario;

Recreational burning containment size (Section 2.2(b)-(c))

Open burnings shall be confined to open burning devices or to a pit no larger than 61 centimetres (2 feet) by 61 centimetres (2 feet) in size. When in use, the open burning device or pit shall be covered with a grill or a metal screen having a mesh size no larger than 2.5 centimetres (1 inch)... No more than 21 centimetres (8 inches) of the containment area shall be above grade with a maximum depth of 42 centimetres (16 inches);

Setback distances (Section 2.2(f)-(g))

Open air burning shall be confined to a location that provides for a minimum distance of 3 metres (9.8 feet) in all directions from adjacent properties; Open air burning shall be confined to an area that is a minimum of 3 meters (9.8 feet) from combustible structures or objects;

Special Event Permit (Section 2.7)

All persons seeking permission to hold a special event involving an open air burning that is not exempted as per section 2.2, 2.3 or 2.4, shall apply to the Fire Chief for a permit. Application shall be made at least one week prior to the proposed date of the event on a form supplied by the Fire Chief and such application should be accompanied by the applicable fee as set out in the Fee By-law. Registered not-for-profit charitable organizations may make application to the Fire Chief requesting a permit fee exemption.

Farm brush burning notification, hours, wind/smog trigger, setback (Section 3.1)

No person shall conduct, or permit to be conducted, an open air burning on a farm, which is not authorized under section 2.2 (recreational burning) or section 2.3 (barbeques), without first notifying the Fire Department in person or by telephone; ... (c) Open air burnings on farms may only be conducted between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.; (d) No materials other than dry brush may be burned; ... (g) Open air burning is not permitted when the wind speed exceeds 30 kilometres per hour, or during rainy or foggy weather, or at times when a smog alert has been declared by the Ministry of the Environment for Ontario; (h) An open air burning shall be confined to an area that is at least 45 metres (150 feet) from any building, highway, road, or wooded area;

Order to Extinguish / cost recovery (Section 2.8)

When made aware of a prohibited open air burning not authorized under this by-law, the Fire Chief shall order the land owner or occupant to immediately extinguish the fire. ... On the third attendance in any calendar year to a particular municipal address, the Fire Department shall immediately take whatever steps are necessary to extinguish a fire that is an open air burning found not to be in compliance with this by-law.