Burn Permits

A Recreational Fire is a small fire set in a fire pit or tire rim or other device designed to burn firewood and shall not exceed 1 metre (3 feet) in diameter.
Recreational Fires DO NOT require a permit, and all persons setting or maintaining a recreational fire or cooking fire must comply with the following:

• A recreational fire cannot be bigger than 1 meter (3 feet) in diameter.
• A recreational fire must be a minimum of 3 meters (10 feet) from any combustible material and adjacent property lines.
• Only paper or kindling can be used to start the fire.
• Leaves, compostable material and yard waste cannot be burned in urban areas.

A Burn Barrel is a metal barrel not exceeding 205 litres (45 imperial gallons). Burn Barrels DO NOT require an approved permit and must comply with the following:

• No persons shall use a burn barrel within an urban area, unless in the instances of a strike or lockout and are located on an industrial or commercial property under constant supervision, at the strike or lockout location.
• A burn barrel must be in sound condition with vent holes in the side for ventilation, drainage holes in the bottom with adequate clearance of 3 meters (10 feet) from surrounding vegetation or structures.

An Open Air Burn is a fire greater than 1 meter (3 feet) in diameter. Open Air Burns MUST have a Burn Permit issued and must comply with the following:

• No person shall set or maintain an open air burn larger than 1 metre (3 feet) in a diameter without an approved Burn Permit issued.
• Permits shall not be issued to property owners who reside within urban areas of the Township of Southgate, unless otherwise approved by the Chief Fire Official.
• Permits shall only be issued to property owners, or to an agent with written permission from the property owner.
• All persons setting an open air fire must advise the Dundalk Fire Department of their intention to start the fire, and must provide the location and burn permit number.
• No person shall ignite a fire that has a base greater than 5 meters in diameter (16.5 feet).
• A fire must not be 10 meters (33 feet) from a roadway, building, overhead wire or trees.
• Equipment and an extinguishing agent must be at the burning site to control and prevent the fire from causing an adverse effect.
• No person shall plan, set, light or maintain an open air fire except 1/2 an hour after sunrise and be extinguished 1/2 hour prior to sunset.

In the event the Fire Service responded to a recreational fire, burn barrel fire or an open air burn conducted without a permit or in violation of the Burn By-law the full cost of extinguishment apply and may be charged to the property owner and/or permit holder. These charges are at the discretion of the Chief Fire Official and are outlined in the Fees and Charges By-law. Additional set fines are outlined in Schedule A of the Burn By-law