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The Township of Scugog's Open Air Burning By-law regulates burning in the community. There are two categories of burning:
- Open air burning
- Recreational burning
You need a burn permit for all burning in Scugog. Burn permits expire December 31 of the same year they are issued.
Open air burns
We allow open air burning during daylight hours only. Open air burning is for burning brush and wood. Open air burn sites must:
- Be a maximum of 1 m3(3ft by 3ft by 3ft)in size
- Be at least 15 m (50 ft) away from any structures, overhead wires and roadways
- Be at least 7.5 m (25 ft) away from flammable vegetation in all directions
- Have a means to extinguish the fire
- Be attended by a capable adult at all times
- Be extinguished by dusk
Recreational burns
Recreational burns are small campfires for burning wood for recreational purposes. This type of burning is allowed during the day or night. Recreational burn sites must:
- Have a base size no larger than 0.5 m (20 in by 20 in)
- Be at least 5 m (16.5 ft) away from any structure
- Be at least 15 m (50 ft) away from any overhead wire or roadway
- Be at least 5 m (16.5 ft) away from flammable vegetation in all directions
- Be extinguished by 11:00 p.m.
Bans
Burning is not allowed in Port Perry and Prince Albert. Exceptions may be made if Scugog Fire and Emergency Services issues a special permission form after an inspection.
The Scugog Fire and Emergency Services will issue a burn ban when there is very dry weather or poor air quality in the community. Burn ban notices will appear on our website and in the local media. The notice will let you know which types of burning are banned. These burn bans are for your safety and we ask that you follow them.
Complaints
Guidelines for all burning are included on the back of your burn permit. When the Fire and Emergency Services responds to complaints about burning and they find you are not following these rules, you may be charged for the services used to respond to the complaint, including trucks and staff costs. We also have the right to revoke your burn permit, if necessary.
Be a good neighbour and make sure that smoke from your burn is not drifting on to others' property. Your neighbours have a right to complain about your burn if the smoke is causing an issue on their property.