Township of Georgian Bay residents must have a burn permit for open air burning between January 1 and December 31. We allow daytime burning with a valid permit.

Why do you need to get a burn permit?

  1. Safety: By obtaining a burn permit, you help minimize the risk of uncontrolled fires. Properly managed burns reduce the likelihood of wildfires that can endanger lives, property, and the environment.
  2. Environmental Protection: Burning without a permit can lead to the release of harmful pollutants and toxins into the air, posing health risks to residents and harming the ecosystem. With a permit, you agree to abide by regulations that help mitigate these risks.
  3. Legal Compliance: The Township of Georgian Bay requires all outdoor burning to be conducted in accordance with municipal by-laws. Obtaining a burn permit ensures that you're complying with these regulations and avoiding potential fines or penalties.

Get a burn permit

  1. Fill out our Online Application: Visit our website to access the online burn permit application form. Fill out the required information, including your contact details and property address. The online form will direct you to a payment form where your credit card information will be required and you will be charged the $20 plus a fee of 2.5%. If all the information you have provided meets the requirements outlined in the by-law, your burn permit will be issued electronically to the email that you have provided to staff.
  2. Visit our Municipal Administration Office or the Georgian Bay Public Library Locations: Do you need help or would like to pay your fee by other means? Visit the office and one of our esteemed staff members at any location would love to assist you, the burn permit will be reviewed and approved upon completion.

The application is in, what’s next?

  1. Burn Period: Burn permits are issued starting January 1 to December 31, they do require an annual renewal.
  2. Follow Guidelines: Upon receiving your burn permit, familiarize yourself with the guidelines and restrictions outlined. These may include permissible burn materials, weather conditions, and safety precautions to follow during burning activities.
  3. Follow the Fire Danger Rating: The fire danger rating is available online at our website, via phone 1-877-847-1577 or 705-538-2337, fire danger rating signage is also posted throughout the Township and our social media platforms. The rating is also posted at the libraries and administration office.  

Check the fire danger rating

Always check the current fire rating online or by calling 1-877-847-1577 before burning. This rating determines the relative seriousness of burning conditions and threat of fire.

Burn safely

Everyone needs to do their part to burn safely. Please follow these burning guidelines:

  • Review and abide by Burning By-law 2019-18, as amended.
  • Burn only class “A” combustible materials.
  • Don’t burn kitchen garbage, treated or painted lumber/construction materials or materials made/or containing rubber, plastic, tar, or other hazardous material.
  • Recreational/Campfires must be no greater than 1 cubic meters.
  • Non-Recreational/ Bonfire must be no greater than 2 cubic meters.
  • Fires must be under constant supervision and controlled at all times.
  • Daytime burning is permitted.
  • Do not burn on days where smoke will blow across roadways and hamper driving visibility.
  • Always have proper extinguishment tools on site.
  • If the Chief Fire Official, officer or a member of the fire department deems a fire to be in contravention of the burning by-law, the fire shall be extinguished.
  • The Chief Fire Official, or designate, or Municipal Law Enforcement Officer, has the right to revoke an issued permit upon receipt of any complaint or violation of any part of Burning By-law 2019-18.
  • The current Ministry of Transportation rate charged per fire apparatus for every hour of part thereof that the fire department is on site.
  • NON RECREATIONAL FIRES (bonfires) and FIREWORKS, ARE NOT ALLOWED when the Fire Danger Rating is HIGH.
  • BURNING for any reason, including FIREWORKS, IS NOT ALLOWED when the Fire Danger Rating is EXTREME.

You are responsible for any fire you light! Failure to comply with our Burning By-law 2019-18 can result in charges and an invoice for all firefighting costs per the current Ministry of Transportation rates.

 

BURN PERMIT APPLICATION

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