Fire By-laws and Permits

There is a no open air burning area and no fireworks area in the downtown core.

1. No burning of yard waste or household garbage is permitted.
2. Only fires that are ceremonial, cooking or recreational are permitted.
3. Fires must be attended at all times with an extinguisher available.
4. For cooking fires only commercially produced briquettes or charcoal are permitted.
5. Cooking fires must be setback at least 1 m from all property lines and combustible materials.
6. Recreational fires are not permitted at multi residential buildings or townhomes/semi-detached homes.

See the Open Air Burning By-Law for more information.

Low hazard fireworks can be used without a permit between 19:00 (7:00 pm) and 23:00 (11:00 pm) on:

• Victoria Day and 3 calendar days before,
• Canada Day and the closest Friday and Saturday,
• Civic Holiday and 3 calendar days before, and
• Labour Day and 3 calendar days before,
• Diwali
• Between 19:00 (7:00 pm) on December 31 and 01:00 (1:00 am) on January 1 immediately following.

No person shall use fireworks in the City in the following areas:

• On City or other public property at any time without the express written consent from the City or owner of the Property, within 100 meters of a hospital, nursing home or group home and within 100 meters of a place where explosives, gasoline or other highly flammable substances are commercially manufactured, stored or sold.

See the Fireworks By-law for more information.

To have fireworks on days other than listed above, please submit the application and $125 to Owen Sound Fire and Emergency Services.