Friday, February 7th, 2025

In 2014, Clearview’s open-air burning by-law will apply to residential areas in the Township as well as rural areas.

The Township decided to re-examine the by-law after receiving a petition in September signed by approximately 300 citizens of Nottawa and New Lowell asking that burning permits be available for residential areas.
Under the old by-law, outdoor fires were not permitted in residential areas. The previous by-law also contained conflicting information about where burning could occur.

“The new by-law is clearer and more consistent so it applies to more residents,” said Acting Fire Chief Colin Shewell at Council’s December 9 meeting.

According to the new rules, people living in residential areas can have fires in outdoor fireplaces called chimineas. Residents must use chimineas that are Canadian Standards Association-approved.

As well, the Township has extended the hours that fires are permitted. Under the previous by-law, citizens could have fires from half an hour before sunrise to half an hour before sunset. Now, fires are permitted between 6 am and 1 am. “This is to facilitate people who want to have a small fire with family in the evening hours,” Shewell said.

The by-law specifies that residential fires be at least 4 metres away from any building or deck, on a non-combustible surface using clean wood materials. Also, they must be contained in backyard areas. Burning is not allowed if the wind is over 25 km/hour, if it is raining or if a smog advisory has been issued.

Fires in rural areas must be no less than 30 metres from any structure and must not be larger than 1 metre long by 1 metre wide and 1 metre high.

Regardless of where residents build their fires, they still need a permit to do so. One-year permits are available at the municipal building in Stayner for $10.

People who want to have larger fires to burn branches in residential or rural areas may do so after they have contacted the Fire Department, which will assess their request before issuing a permit allowing burning for a specific period of time.

Council will pass the new by-law at its Council meeting on Monday, January 13.

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