Can I burn today in Port Colborne?
Port Colborne’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
- St. Catharines
- Observed
- 2:00 AM EDT Thursday 10 September 2026 · rating measured at the centre of Niagara Region, which covers a wide area
A rating is not permission. Port Colborne requires a permit, and a fire ban can be declared at any time. Port Colborne Fire and Emergency Services decides — not this page.
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A campfire meeting the by-law's size/setback/hours criteria (max 1m x 0.6m, 3m from combustibles, wood only, extinguished by 11pm) needs no permission at all — it is self-executing under Section 2.2.
A barbecue or pizza oven used for cooking needs no permission either, subject to placement and supervision rules.
Non-recreational open air burning (e.g. brush, agricultural) requires the Fire Department to be notified and permission granted in advance, including a site visit before approval.
Check current fire ban status; the Fire Chief may declare a complete ban considering air quality index, precipitation, water shortages, firefighting resource availability, and overall fire danger.
General approval requirement
Subject to Sections 2.2 and 2.3 herein, no person shall conduct or permit to be conducted, an Open Air Burning within the boundaries of the City of Port Colborne unless permission has first been granted by the Fire Chief or their designate.
Recreational fire exception — self-executing, no permit needed
Every person is permitted to conduct a camp fire providing it meets the following criteria: i) Minimum distance from buildings, property lines and combustible materials of not less than 3 m (10'). ii) Minimum of 5 m (16.5') vertical clearance ... iii) Not be larger than 1 m (3') in diameter and a height of .6 m (2'). ... vi) Shall be totally extinguished by 11 p.m. vii) Only clean seasoned wood can be burned...
Camp fire definition
“Camp Fire” shall mean a small open air fire not larger than 1 m by 1 m and height of .6 metres.
Barbecue/pizza oven exception
Despite Section 2.1 herein the following regulations shall apply for the use of barbecues/pizza ovens to cook food: (a) Every person must place the barbecue/pizza oven on non-flammable material and in a location other than on a balcony, porch or veranda of a building... (b) Every person must supervise the barbecue/pizza oven at all times...
Fire ban — factors considered by the Fire Chief
When determining whether to declare a complete ban on burning, the Fire Chief may take into consideration any or all of the following factors: (a) the air quality index; (b) levels of recent precipitation; (c) water shortages or restrictions; (d) availability of fire fighters and firefighting equipment; and (e) the overall fire danger.
Cost recovery for non-compliant burning
Should the Fire and Emergency Services Department be dispatched to a complaint regarding public safety due to a hazard created by a cooking fire, camp fire or upon notification of prohibited open air burning not authorized under this by-law within Sections 2.1 or 2.2(a), the Fire Chief or their designate will take action to have the fire extinguished, and the person who owns or occupies the land on which burning or prohibited Open Air Burning is located shall be responsible for any and all costs incurred by the City of Port Colborne in its efforts to extinguish the fire, as provided for within the City's Fee Schedule.
A live readout of air quality, wind and fire danger for Port Colborne — 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 — Port Colborne Fire and Emergency Services decides.