Apply for a Backyard Fire Permit
In 2021, Council approved the pdf "Open-Air Burning Bylaw". (190 KB) The bylaw allows property owners to apply for a permit to have backyard fires when the proper conditions are met.
To apply for a permit, please follow these steps:
- Download, print and complete the form by hand, or by filling in and submitting by email/online. A copy of the PDF form is below.
- Complete the Plot Plan to show the location of the fire pit. Please show all distances from the proposed fire pit to your home, deck, and garage and to any trees (including overhead), hedges or shrubs. The minimum distance is 15 feet (4.6 metres)
- Take a photograph of the completed fire pit in its location and email it to yarmouthfiredept@townofyarmouth.ca or attach it to your application.
- If you print and fill it in by hand, please bring the completed application to Yarmouth Town Hall, 400 Main Street. Online submissions can be signed at the time of the site visit.
- Pay the $50 permit fee at Town Hall when you drop off the application, or after you submit the form online.
- Within 3-5 days an official from the Yarmouth Fire Department will contact you to arrange a site visit to finalize your permit application and receive final signatures.
Before you apply, it is recommended that you read the bylaw to ensure your property is appropriate. You MUST be the property owner to apply. pdf Download a copy of the by-law. (190 KB)
Recreational Burn Permit Application Form
Please note: if you wish to submit this application online, you will need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader or another PDF application installed. You may download Acrobat for free.
After clicking the link to the permit below, click the download button in the top right corner of your browser. Choose where to save the application, then open the file from that location. To submit the form through email, fill in the details and then click the "Email Application Now" button at the bottom of the application. A window will pop up, click continue.
If you wish to complete it by hand, simply download the PDF file and print it.
Download the Recreational Burn Permit application
FAQs
Q: Do I need to be the property owner for the civic address I'm applying for?
A: Yes, you must be the property owner.
Q: Do I need a permit to use my propane fire pit?
A: No, this permit is for the burning of seasoned wood (not waste) in approved fire pits with a screen arrestor. You do not need a permit for propane appliances.
Q: Can I locate the fire pit anywhere on my property?
A: The fire pit must be located in your backyard. It also needs to be a minimum of 15 feet (4.6 meters) away from your house, deck, outbuildings, trees, and other combustibles.
Q: Can I burn at any hour I want? What restrictions are in place for burn times?
A: Open-air burning must not be started any earlier than 7:00 pm Monday to Friday, and not earlier than 2:00 pm on weekends or holidays, or such other time as determined by the Fire Chief, and be extinguished by 12:00 am (midnight).
Q: How long is my permit good for?
A: Permits issued expire on December 31st and must be renewed annually.
Q: Are there days I cannot burn? How will I know if there is a ban on burning?
A: No burning will be allowed when Environment Canada or Nova Scotia Environment have issued an Air Quality Advisory applicable to the area, or when it's foggy. The Fire Chief or Nova Scotia Lands and Forestry may declare a burn restriction such as a Fire Ban or No-Burn Day against outdoor burning when atmospheric conditions or local circumstances make such fires hazardous. Daily notifications are posted at approximately 2 pm whether a burn restriction is in effect on Town of Yarmouth's Twitter page and on the Town of Yarmouth website home page (scroll down to the Twitter feed area on the home page just below the "Latest News & Notices" section). See the images below. Also, no burning is allowed when wind speeds are 20km/h or higher.
Daily notices are posted on the Town of Yarmouth Twitter page (which also posts on the home page of this website under "Tweets from @TownOfYarmouth"):
Twitter:
