Open Air Burning & Fire Permits

If you plan to burn outdoors in the Township of Huron‑Kinloss, it’s important to understand that different types of outdoor fires are subject to different rules, and some require a permit before burning begins.

This page explains the requirements for open‑air disposal fires, beach fires, and recreational fires, and helps you determine whether you need a permit and what safety rules apply.

Requirements for outdoor burning are outlined in the Township’s Open Air Burning By-law.

Most small recreational fires do not require a permit, but all fires — whether permitted or not — must follow Township safety rules regarding distance and materials.

No Permit Required

  • Barbecues: Charcoal or gas grills used for cooking.
  • Recreational Fires: Small backyard campfires or chimineas on private property.
  • Cooking Fires: Permanent outdoor fireplaces used solely for food.

Permit Required ($40)

  • Open Air Fires: Large‑scale disposal burns of clean brush or untreated wood.
  • Beach Fires: Any fire located on the Lake Huron shoreline.

Please note: All permits expire on December 31st each year, regardless of when they were purchased.

Open Air Burning

Use this for large-scale burning of clean wood or brush on rural/agricultural properties.

Important Update: By-law Amended December 2025

The Township of Huron‑Kinloss has updated the Open Air Burning By‑law. Recent amendments include new and clarified requirements related to setbacks, permitted materials, signage, and notification.

Use the sections below to review the current requirements that apply to open‑air burning before starting a burn.

An approved Open Air Fire Permit is required before burning begins.

Read the Full By-Law Apply for an Open Air Permit

An approved permit is required for all open-air disposal burns.

Cost and Expiry:

Annual permits cost $40.00 and expire on December 31st, regardless of the purchase date.

Eligibility and Use:

  • Open Air Fire Permits are not transferable.
  • No person under the age of eighteen (18) years may apply for or obtain a Fire Permit.

Processing Time:

Please allow up to 5 business days for the Township to review your application and confirm your site meets safety requirements.

If you have any questions or would like to know the status of your application please email jbradley@huronkinloss.com or call the office 519-395-3735.

To reduce unnecessary emergency calls and make it clear when an open‑air burn is approved, the Township has updated how open‑air fires are identified and communicated.

Mandatory Signage:

All approved open‑air burns must display a sign at the property’s primary entrance stating:

“Controlled Burn in Progress.”

The sign must:

  • Be clearly visible from the roadway; and
  • Remain in place for the entire duration of the burn.

This signage helps inform neighbours and passersby that the fire is intentional, approved, and being monitored.

No Dispatch Call Required:

You are no longer required to call Fire Dispatch or notify the Township before starting an approved open‑air burn.

Your approved permit confirms you are authorized to burn, and the required signage serves as public notification. No additional activation or notification is needed.

To prevent the spread of fire, your burn pile must be at least 30 metres (100 feet) away from:

  • Public roadways and property lines.
  • Buildings or wooden structures.
  • Combustible areas (dead grass, grain fields, bushes, or woodlots).

To keep fires manageable and reduce the risk of spreading, open-air burn piles must stay within the following limits:
  • Maximum pile size: 6 metres x 6 metres (20 ft x 20 ft)
  • Maximum pile height: 2 metres (6 ft)
Burn piles must be built in a way that allows them to be safely monitored and extinguished if conditions change.

Certain materials are not permitted to be burned in the Township of Huron‑Kinloss, as they create excessive smoke, release toxins, or pose increased risk to people, property, and the environment.

Do not burn any of the following materials:

  • Accelerants and Flammable Liquids: Gasoline, diesel fuel, kerosene, oil, grease, paint, or any other flammable or combustible liquids used to start or intensify a fire.
  • Automotive and Mechanical Materials: Vehicle or truck bodies, tires, rubber or rubber products, oil‑ or grease‑contaminated materials, and rags.
  • Construction and Renovation Materials: Construction debris, insulation, asphalt shingles, wire, plastics, and composite or manufactured building materials.
  • Household Waste: Garbage, paper, cardboard, packaging materials, and general household refuse.
  • Organic Yard Waste: Leaves, grass clippings, straw, and hay.
  • Treated or Processed Wood: Painted wood, stained wood, laminated wood, and pressure‑treated wood.

Burning these prohibited materials may result in fines.

How Can I Dispose of These Materials?

For information on proper disposal options, please visit the Township’s Landfill, Recycling, and Yard Waste pages.

Open-air burning is only permitted when weather conditions are safe.
Before lighting your burn:
  • Wind speeds must be below 16 km/h (10 mph) with no strong gusts
  • There must be no active Fire Ban in the Township
  • Burning is only permitted between sunrise and sunset
Burning should stop immediately if wind conditions increase or become unsafe.

Only proceed if all of the following are true:

  • Permit: I have an approved and paid Open Air Fire Permit.
  • Materials: I am burning only clean wood or brush (no leaves, grass, or waste).
  • Signage: My “Controlled Burn in Progress” sign is visible at the property entrance.
  • Setback: My pile is at least 30m (100ft) from all structures, roads, and fields.
  • Size: The pile is no larger than 6m x 6m (20ft x 20ft).
  • Height: The pile is no higher than 2m (6ft).
  • Fire Ban: I have confirmed there is no active Fire Ban in the Township.
  • Wind: Wind speeds do not exceed 16 km/h (10 mph).
  • Time: It is currently between sunrise and sunset.
  • Supervision: A competent adult will be on-site until the fire is completely out.
  • Equipment: Shovels, water, or other extinguishing equipment are immediately available to control or extinguish the fire if needed.

Beach Fires (Lake Huron Shoreline)

Use this for any open-air fire located on the pebbly or sandy shore of Lake Huron.

Important Update: Residency Requirement

Effective December 2025, only the following individuals may apply for and obtain a Beach Fire Permit:

  • Property Owners within the Township of Huron-Kinloss.

  • Tenants with a formal lease agreement of at least three (3) months.

Read the Full By-Law Apply for a Beach Fire Permit

An approved permit is required for all fires in Huron-Kinloss on the Lake Huron shoreline.

Cost and Expiry:

  • Annual permits cost $40.00 and expire on December 31st, regardless of the purchase date.

Eligibility and Use

  • No person under the age of eighteen (18) years may apply for or obtain a Fire Permit.

Processing Time:

  • Please allow up to 5 business days for the Township to review your application and confirm your site meets safety requirements.

Approval:

  • Your permit is your official authorization. You must have a digital or physical copy of your approved permit with you while burning on the beach.

To keep our beaches safe for pedestrians and protect local ecosystems, the following rules apply:

Location:

Fires must not disturb pedestrians or damage beach vegetation/sand dunes.

Mandatory Cleanup:

Once finished, you must:

  1. Extinguish the fire completely with water.

  2. Clear the area of all waste, charcoal, or refuse.

  3. Cover the extinguished coals/pit with sand to ensure no heat remains.

To prevent the spread of fire to nearby properties or vegetation, your beach fire must be at least:

  • 3 metres (10 feet) from any wooden structures, boardwalks, or fences.

  • 3 metres (10 feet) from any woodlots, trees, or beach grass.

Beach fires are limited to clean, dry firewood only. Firewood must be cut to a maximum length of 60 cm (24 inches).

The following materials must not be burned in a beach fire, as they create excessive smoke, release toxic emissions, or pose a risk to people, property, and the environment.

Do not burn any of the following materials:

  • Accelerants and Flammable Liquids: Gasoline, diesel fuel, kerosene, oil, grease, paint, or any other flammable or combustible liquids used to start or intensify a fire.

  • Household and Construction Waste: Garbage, paper, cardboard, packaging materials, plastics, rubber, construction debris, insulation, asphalt shingles, and composite or manufactured materials.

  • Organic Yard Waste: Leaves, grass clippings, straw, and hay.

  • Treated or Processed Wood: Painted wood, stained wood, laminated wood, pressure‑treated wood, or any wood exposed to chemicals or coatings.

Burning prohibited materials creates safety and environmental risks and may result in enforcement action.

How Can I Dispose of These Materials?

For information on proper disposal options, please visit the Township’s Landfill, Recycling, and Yard Waste pages.

Only proceed if all of the following are true:

  • Eligibility: I am an Owner or Tenant with an approved and paid Beach Fire Permit.
  • Size: The fire is no larger than 1m x 1m (3.28ft x 3.28ft).
  • Setback: The fire is at least 3m (10ft) from structures and vegetation.
  • Fire Ban: There is no active Fire Ban in effect.
  • Wind: Wind speeds do not exceed 16 km/h (10 mph).
  • Equipment: Water, sand, or other extinguishing equipment is immediately available.
  • Cleanup: The fire will be completely extinguished, all waste removed, and coals covered with sand afterward.

Recreational Fires

Use this for small, contained fires on private property for warmth or cooking food.

Recreational campfires do not require a permit, as long as they are contained on private property (or on property where you have the owner’s permission) and comply with the safety rules below.

These guidelines help reduce fire risk and protect nearby homes and neighbours. Fires that are unsafe or do not meet these requirements may be required to be extinguished and could result in enforcement action, where applicable.

To prevent the spread of fire, your fire pit must be at least 3 metres (10 feet) away from:

  • Structures: Buildings, sheds, decks, and fences.

  • Boundaries: Property lines and public roadways.

  • Combustibles: Dead grass, grain fields, bushes, or woodlots.

Recreational fires are limited to clean, dry firewood only. Firewood must be cut to a maximum length of 60 cm (24 inches).

The following materials must not be burned in a recreational fire:

  • Accelerants and Flammable Liquids: Gasoline, diesel fuel, kerosene, oil, grease, paint, or any other flammable or combustible liquids used to start or intensify a fire.
  • Household and Construction Waste: Garbage, paper, cardboard, packaging materials, plastics, rubber, construction debris, insulation, asphalt shingles, and composite or manufactured materials.
  • Organic Yard Waste: Leaves, grass clippings, straw, and hay.
  • Treated or Processed Wood: Painted wood, stained wood, laminated wood, pressure‑treated wood, or any wood exposed to chemicals or coatings.

How Can I Dispose of These Materials?

For information on proper disposal options, please visit the Township’s Landfill, Recycling, and Yard Waste pages.

Only proceed if all of the following are true:

  • Fire Ban: There is no active Fire Ban in effect.
  • Wind: Wind speeds do not exceed 16 km/h (10 mph).
  • Container: The fire is in an approved pit, masonry ring, or chiminea.
  • Size: The fire is no larger than 1 m × 1 m (3.28 ft × 3.28 ft).
  • Setback: The fire is at least 3 m (10 ft) from all structures and property lines.
  • Supervision: A competent adult will remain on‑site at all times.
  • Equipment: A hose, bucket of water, or fire extinguisher is immediately available to control or extinguish the fire if needed.

How to Apply for a Burn Permit

You must apply for and receive approval for a burn permit before burning begins. Applications can be submitted online, by mail, or in person.

Please allow up to 5 business days for your application to be reviewed and approved.

Online (Recommended)

The fastest way to get your permit. Once your application is submitted and the $40.00 fee is paid, an approved permit will be issued and emailed to the applicant.

Apply & Pay Online Now

By Mail

Submit a completed application along with a cheque for $40.00 to:

Township of Huron-Kinloss
21 Queen St., P.O. Box 130
Ripley, ON  N0G 2R0
Attn: Sarah Phelan

In Person

Visit the Township Office in Ripley at 21 Queen St. during regular business hours
(8:30 AM – 4:30 PM).

Staff can assist with your application and accept payment by cash, debit, or cheque.

Automatic Annual Renewal

For your convenience, burn permits are automatically renewed each year. You will receive an annual invoice by mail.

If you no longer require your permit, please contact the Township office to cancel it.

Burn Complaints

If you have concerns about excessive smoke, nuisance fires, or the burning of prohibited materials (such as plastics or tires), you can submit a non‑emergency burn complaint 24 hours a day, 7 days a week using the dedicated complaint line:

Report a Burn Complaint: 1‑833‑757‑7539

Please note: This number is for reporting violations only and is not used to activate a permitted burn.

Emergency Situations

If a fire becomes uncontrolled or unsafe at any time, call 911 immediately.

Questions?

If you have a question about open air burning please contact our Fire Chief at 519-395-3735.

Contact Us

Township of Huron-Kinloss
21 Queen Street
P.O. Box 130
Ripley ON, N0G 2R0

Phone: 519-395-3735
Fax : 519-395-4107
info@huronkinloss.com

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