Can I burn today in Scugog?
Scugog’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
- Oshawa
- Observed
- 3:00 PM EDT Wednesday 9 September 2026 · rating measured at the centre of Regional Municipality of Durham, which covers a wide area
A rating is not permission. Scugog requires a permit, and a fire ban can be declared at any time. Scugog Fire and Emergency Service decides — not this page.
Calendar year issued (expires Dec 31)
Calendar year issued (expires Dec 31)
Apply online at scugog.burnpermits.com for Recreational, General, Oversize or Agricultural burn permits
General/Recreational applications on eligible properties are auto-approved via the portal's GIS mapping
Oversize and Agricultural applications require Fire Prevention Division review. Only the property owner may apply (tenants need written owner authorization). Permits are not issued for properties in the Port Perry Urban Area, a hamlet, or a residential cluster (General Open Air permits).
Permit required (Section 14)
No person shall set an open air fire or allow an open air fire be set without a Permit.
Burn bans and hours (Sections 7-9, 13)
No fires are permitted during the annual spring burn ban. No fires are permitted during Provincial or Township burn bans. The Fire Risk Rating Scale shall be used to determine Township burn bans. No person shall cause or permit, conduct or engage in any Recreational Burning in the Township between the hours of 12:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. each and every day... No fires are permitted between the hours of 12:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m.
Weather and smog advisory prohibition (Section 23)
No person shall set or cause to be set or permit to be set an open air fire: a. Under weather conditions that limit the rapid dissipation of smoke. b. When wind may cause unsafe conditions that may result in fire spread. c. Under extremely dry or arid conditions. d. When the Ministry of the Environment has issued a Smog Advisory or Smog Alert applicable to the area. e. When the Fire Chief has placed a ban on open fires.
General Open Air Fire Permit conditions (Section 38)
Unless specifically provided otherwise, every Open Air Permit shall be subject to the following conditions: ... c. Material must be burned in a single pile that is less than 1 metre in diameter and less than 1 metre high or in a burn barrel; d. The fire shall be a minimum of fifteen (15) meters from any structure, trailer, tent, flammable source, overhead wire, fence lines, trees, brush piles, property lines or combustible material...
Recreational Open Air Fire Permit conditions (Section 40)
Unless specifically provided otherwise, every Recreational Open Air Permit shall be subject to the following conditions: a. The fire area is no larger than sixty (60) centimeters in diameter; ... g. The fire shall be a minimum of five (5) meters from any structure...; h. The fire is only permitted between the hours of 4:00 p.m. and 12:00 a.m. (midnight).
Oversize Open Air Fire Permit conditions (Section 42)
Unless specifically provided otherwise, every Oversize Permit shall be subject to the following conditions: ... c. Material must be burned in one pile that is less than 25 metres square and less than 5 metres high; d. The fire shall be a minimum of thirty (30) meters from any structure...
Permit expiry (Section 35)
All Open Air Fire Permits expire at 11:59 p.m. on the 31st day of December of the year the permit was issued, unless permit holders are otherwise informed of an extension.
A live readout of air quality, wind and fire danger for Scugog — 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 — Scugog Fire and Emergency Service decides.