The Town of East Gwillimbury (EG) requires anyone having an open-air fire to obtain a Fire Permit. 

A Fire Permit costs $37.80 (for the year, not per fire) as of January 1, 2021.

Fire Permits are available at the Civic Centre, 19000 Leslie Street, Sharon, Monday to Friday, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m.  Payment can be made by cash, debit or credit card or cheque made payable to the Town of East Gwillimbury.

COVID-19 update

Fire permits are still available for purchase during the closure of EG facilities. To obtain a fire permit follow these steps:

  1. Complete the Fire Permit Application Fire Permit Application
  2. Drop the application off at the Civic Centre dropbox, located at the east/front entrance of the Civic Centre. You must also include a cheque or Credit Card Authorization Form (for $37.80) in an envelope with your name, phone number and email address.

    OR

  3. Email the completed Fire Permit Application form and Credit Card Authorization form to Customer Service.

Rental properties

If you rent your property and want to buy a Fire Permit, you must have the Fire Permit signed by the property owner or attach a dated letter of approval from the owner of the property.

Fires burned in chimineas (free-standing fireplaces popular for backyard entertainment), are classified under the Ontario Fire Code as open fires. which means you need a permit from the Town. Anyone burning in a barrel or other approved container must also have a Fire Permit.

Requirements

  • The fire pit must be 10 metres (32.8 feet) away from any building, structure, hedge, fence constructed of material that may burn or melt, or any obstruction of any kind whatsoever that may burn or melt. 
  • The fire can be one cubic meter (3 feet) in size and there must be a way of putting out the fire, easily accessible, always. 
  • After 4 p.m. of one day and 1 a.m. of the following day the size of the fire is to be reduced to 61 centimetres (2 feet) in size. 

Activate your fire permit

  • You must phone (905) 478-3885, a recording will ask for your Fire Permit number, name, address and telephone number.
  • This answering system is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 
  • Each day you wish to burn you must phone (905) 478-3885 to activate your Fire Permit. 
  • If you do not call our answering system and supply the requested information you will be burning without a Fire Permit and charged accordingly. 

To report a non-emergency burning concern, please contact Richmond Hill Fire Non-Emergency/ Dispatch Centre at 905-883-5450 ext. 5.

Oversized permit

If you wish to have an oversized or special fire the cost is $188 to $549 per burn depending on the size and situation. Complete the Fire Permit Application and indicate it is for an oversized burn. This permit requires an inspection for approval by the Fire Department. 

Be a good neighbour

Obtaining authorization to have an open-air fire does not relieve an owner from their obligation to follow the Environmental Protection Act of Ontario. While burning, it is your obligation to ensure that smoke and odor does not interfere with the ability of neighbours to enjoy their property or conduct their business. Watch where your smoke travels and do not burn when there are smog alerts, foggy conditions or wind that will carry your smoke in a direction that will disrupt nearby roadways or properties.