PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT
Halifax Regional Fire & Emergency Reminds HRM Residents of Requirements for Open Air Burning
(Friday, March 31st 2006) – The “burning season” is fast approaching and Halifax Regional Fire & Emergency wishes to inform residents that it is illegal to burn brush without a burning permit within Halifax Regional Municipality. Halifax Regional Fire & Emergency would like to remind the public of restrictions concerning Open Air Burning.
In many areas of HRM, burning is not permitted at all. Some areas of HRM are deemed “No Burn Zones.” If you are not certain whether you reside in a “No Burn Zone,” you can view a boundary map provided within Administrative Order 33 on our HRM Website. (Website information provided below). Generally, most areas within Halifax, Dartmouth, Bedford, Sackville, Cole Harbour, Eastern Passage, Harrietsfield, Lakeside and Timberlea are considered “No Burn Zones.”
By-law 103 states that burning of brush outside “No Burn Zones” requires a Halifax Regional Municipal Permit year round, (excepting the areas exempted, and listed in Administrative Order #33.) (Website information provided below). We recommend residents view the By-law before burning. Those fire station areas not requiring a Municipal Permit are as follows:
Cooks Brook, Dutch Settlement, Meagher’s Grant, Middle Musquodoboit, Moser River, Mooseland, Big Lake, Boutiliers Point, Glen Haven, Hackett’s Cove, Hubbards, Lewis Lake, Prospect Road & District, Seabright, Upper Tantallon, Beaver Bank/Kinsac, Bayside, Hubley, Three Harbours/Port Dufferin, Mushaboom, Musquodoboit Harbour, Ostrea Lake, Oyster Pond, Black Point, East Dover, Glen Margaret, Hatchet Lake, Indian Harbour, Lower Tantallon, Shad Bay, West Dover, Brookside, McGrath’s Cove, Upper Musquodoboit, Sheet Harbour, Tangier, Blind Bay, French Village, portions of Goodwood, Head of St. Margaret’s Bay, Ingramport, Peggy’s Cove, Queensland, Terrence Bay, White’s Lake, Lower Prospect and Otter Lake.
A Department of Natural Resources Permit is required from April 15th to October 15th. DNR Permits can be acquired at the closest DNR Depot (Waverley), or from the following local fire stations: Station 23, Chezzetcook; Station 48, Beaver Bank; Station 52/54, Prospect Road & District; Station 55, Seabright; Station 59, Bay Road and Station 62/63, Harrietsfield/Sambro. (Residents need to call the local station for times and dates that the Permits will be issued.) It may be beneficial for residents to acquire a DNR Permit before applying for a Municipal Permit. Municipal Permits can be acquired from fire stations not listed in Administrative Order 33. There is no fee for a Residential Municipal Permit, and Commercial Municipal Permits are $50.00.
*(Residents should note that although they may have a DNR Permit, a Municipal Permit may not be issued due to the number of permits already issued in that Fire Station area, or their burn site does not meet the restrictions of By-law 103)
Illegal burning will constitute a summary offense ticket in the amount of $215.00. Repeat offenders could be fined up to $5,000.00 or 60 days in jail.
The Extraordinary Exemption in the “No Burn Zone” to burn Hurricane Juan debris has been suspended until further notice.
To view By Law - 103 Respecting Open Air Burning, and Administrative Order 33, please visit the following Halifax Regional Municipality Website addresses:
www.halifax.ca/legislation/bylaws/hrm/blo103.pdf
and
www.halifax.ca/legislation/adminorders/documents/AO33_002.pdf respectively.
Domestic Waste is not permitted to be burned within HRM. Yard waste, small branches and twigs can be bundled and placed at curb sides. There are some restrictions on curb side disposal. Generally, “five arm load size bundles can be placed alongside green cart for collection.” Bundles are collected throughout the year, and not just at Spring time. More information concerning collection can be located at the following HRM Website address:
www.halifax.ca/wrms
If more information is required, please contact the Fire Prevention Office at 490-5546
