Burn Permit Application

Agricultural/non-recreational burning is not permitted in the Township without approval - this form shall be completed if you would like to request permission to burn. Your open-air burn MUST meet all requirements below. If your application for a Burn Permit is approved, you will be contacted by the Administrative Assistant for Protective & Health Services to coordinate the payment and pickup of your permit. The application fee is $50.00 for a lifetime permit, issued to the property owner. Permits are not required for recreational burns (i.e., campfires).  Please review By-law No. 58-2024 for more information.

Requirements:

1. Smoke from your fire must stay on and above your own property. Smoke should not travel to a neighboring property to cause discomfort or loss of enjoyment or normal use of property, or normal conduction of business. Smoke must not travel across any public road.
2. Fires shall be located at least 30 meters (98.4 feet) horizontally from any portion of a combustible structure, vegetation, combustible materials and public utilities. Fires must be located at least 150 meters (492.1 feet) from any occupied building.
3. Fires must be supervised at all times - NO EXCEPTIONS.
4. Fires must be extinguished 1/2 hour before sunset to 1/2 hour after sunrise.
5. All permits are suspended during periods of gusting or sustained wind speeds that exceed 20 kph, and when a smog advisory has been issued by Environment Canada.
6. The person supervising the fire must have means to call the fire department (cell phone) while the fire is burning and have tools and water available and on site to control the fire.
7. No person shall set a fire on municipal property, including roadways and ditches.
8. Complaints from neighbors or other contraventions of the Permit will result in immediate termination of the Permit.
9. Only “Authorized Materials” prescribed below are permitted to be burned.
   1. Wood and wood by-products that have not been chemically treated, painted or stained.
   2. White or brown paper and cardboard for the purpose of starting a fire.
   3. Dry brush, stumps, hay, straw, and grass or other dry yard or natural agricultural materials.
   4. Natural petroleum gases or liquids used as appliance fuels.
   5. Charcoal materials in a BBQ.
10. Burning of petroleum products, such as roofing materials, tires, oil, rubber, or plastics is strictly prohibited.
11. The fire must be fully extinguished and burn site made safe at the completion of the burn.

Your application will be reviewed by the Fire Chief within 10 business days of your application.

Address of proposed burn:

NOTE: Open Air Burn Permits may only be issued to the owner of the property of the proposed burn.

Violations

REVOCATION: The Fire Chief reserves the right to revoke a permit at any time for failure to comply with the conditions and requirements outlined in a burn permit or the Township’s Open Air Burning By-law. Where a Permit is revoked the property owner/applicant will be required to wait for at least 60 days before they can be considered for another Permit.

AGREEMENT: The property owner/applicant agrees to all conditions/requirements on the permit and to be responsible for any and all damages to their own property and any neighbouring property and any other damage resulting from the burning of materials and agrees to hold the Township of South-West Oxford harmless from any damages.

LEGISLATION: The property owner/applicant shall comply with all Federal or Provincial enactment, law or regulation, or any municipal law when setting a fire.

VIOLATION OF THE CONDITIONS/REQUIREMENTS OF A PERMIT WILL RESULT IN THE PERMIT BEING REVOKED AND/OR THE PROPERTY OWNER BEING FINED AND/OR INVOICED FOR FEES INCLUDING COSTS FOR ANY FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONSE, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CURRENT TOWNSHIP OF SOUTH-WEST OXFORD FEES AND CHARGES BY-LAW.