Can I burn today in Toronto?

Underlying legal basis — Ontario Fire Code (Recital)

Whereas under s. 2.4.4.4. of the Fire Code, open-air burning as defined is not allowed unless it is approved by a person who is the Municipal Fire Chief or a member of the fire department appointed by the Municipal Fire Chief, or another person appointed by the Fire Marshal; and Whereas the City has a division, known as Toronto Fire Services, that is the City's "fire department" under the FPPA, and the Fire Chief of Toronto Fire Services is a Municipal Fire Chief under the FPPA; and Whereas the City, through Toronto Fire Services provides a service of approving open-air burning for purposes of the Fire Code.

Definitions (Municipal Code Section 442-1, as amended)

CULTURAL FIRE - An open air burn conducted in connection with a specific cultural or religious practice, ceremony, or event; CULTURAL FIRE AUTHORIZATION - Approval for purposes of compliance with Article 2.4.4.4 of the Ontario Fire Code granted by the Fire Department with respect to open air burning conducted as a Cultural Fire; OPEN AIR BURN - shall have the same meaning as the phrases "open-air burn" or "open-air burning" as those phrases are used in the Ontario Fire Code; OPEN AIR BURN PERMIT - Approval for purposes of compliance with Article 2.4.4.4 of the Ontario Fire Code granted by the Fire Department for all other purposes other than specific cultural or religious practices, ceremonies, or events; including, but not limited to, film shoots, private events not associated with a specific cultural or religious practice, ceremony, or event, or general fire pits.

Cultural Fire Authorization — application and duration (Section 442-2(K))

An applicant for a cultural fire authorization shall file with the City the application and other required documents in the form and manner approved by the Fire Chief prior to the first proposed date for a Cultural Fire, such application and documentation to include the following: (a) Name, address and telephone number of the applicant...; (b) Location where cultural fire is to be placed; (c) Site plan illustrating the location of the cultural fire...; (d) Start date...; (e) Duration of time for which a Cultural Fire Authorization... is being requested; (f) the cultural or religious practices, ceremonies, or events to which the cultural fire(s) relate; and (g) Burnable materials to be included... The Fire Chief... shall not issue a cultural fire authorization which exceeds 12 months from the start date of commencement of Cultural Fires with respect to an application. Where an application... is inactive or incomplete for six months after it is submitted, the Fire Chief... may deem the application to have been abandoned and cancel the application.

Open Air Burn Permit — application and duration (Section 442-2(L))

An applicant for an open air burn permit shall pay the fee prescribed in Chapter 441, Fees and Charges, and file with the City the application and other required documents in the form and manner approved by the Fire Chief prior to the proposed date for the commencement of the open air burn, such application and documentation to include the following: (a) Name, address and telephone number of the applicant...; (b) Location where each open air burn is to be placed; (c) Site plan illustrating the location...; (d) Date of each open air burn; (e) Where there are more than one open air burn scheduled, the person responsible for each open air burn; (f) Purpose for each open air burn; and (g) Burnable materials to be included in the open air burn. The Fire Chief... shall not issue an open air burn permit which exceeds 6 months from the date of the first open air burn with respect to an application for a specific location. Where an application... is abandoned, the application fee is not refundable.

Fee Schedule amendment — Open Air Burn Permit and re-inspections (Chapter 441, Appendix B Schedule 1)

95 Fire Prevention, Inspection & Enforcement | Open Air Burn Permit, site visit, reviewing plan for approval for compliance with Provincial Legislation open air burning requirements | Full Cost Recovery | Per application | $266.17 | Yes. 96 ... Re-inspection - Inspector conducting Fire Prevention Re-inspection arising from Open Air Burn Permit review | Full Cost Recovery | Per hour or portion thereof | $95.86 | Yes. 97 ... Re-inspection - Captain ... | $115.88 | Yes. 98 ... Re-inspection - District Chief ... | $133.09 | Yes.

Fee Schedule amendment — Cultural Fire Authorization (Chapter 441, Appendix B Schedule 1, new line 116)

116 Fire Prevention, Inspection & Enforcement | Cultural Fire Authorization, site visit, reviewing plan for approval for compliance with Provincial Legislation open air burning requirements | City Policy | Per application | $0.00 | No.