Fire Permit Bylaw

Planning to burn in Parkland County?
Here are some things you need to know:

On May 12, 2009, Parkland County Council passed Fire Permit Bylaw 36-2008, which includes many changes from the previous Fire Bylaw 48-2003. These changes affect the sale and discharge of fireworks, the use of outdoor wood-fired boilers, indoor or outdoor solid fuel burning appliances, and outdoor burning in restricted burn areas, such as hamlets, industrial parks and multi-parcel country residential subdivisions.

Fireworks

Family Fireworks (do it yourself) are only allowed to be discharged (permit required) during the following times:

• New Years: 8:00 p.m. December 31 – 1:00 a.m. January 1
• Canada Day: 8:00 p.m. – 11:59 p.m. July 1
• Labour Day: 8:00 p.m. - 11:59 p.m. on the first Monday of September

Fire Permits for the above noted three occassions will be available two weeks prior to those dates.  Permit can be obtained on-line or at the County Administration Office.

Anyone wishing to discharge fireworks other than the times listed above, needs to have a trained and qualified pyrotechnics contractor apply for a permit.

Indoor/Outdoor Wood Fired/ Solid Fuel Burning Appliances

No person shall install, operate or burn materials in an outdoor wood-fired boiler (OWB) or coal-fired indoor or outdoor appliances in a multi-parcel subdivision, rural centre districts, or industrial commercial core area unless the appliance meets the clean burning regulations and emission control standards of the CSA or EPA.

“Outdoor Wood Boiler” (also known as Outdoor Wood Fired Hydronic Heater, Wood Stove or Outdoor Wood Furnace) means a fuel burning device designed to burn wood and other approved solid fuels such as coal; that the manufacturer specifies for outdoor installation and heats fluid, typically water and antifreeze mixture for distribution typically through pipes to heat building space.

The new bylaw does not affect the use of fireplaces, and wood stoves used to burn clean wood for home heating purposes.

Outdoor Fires

No person shall burn materials on any lands in Parkland County where the burnable materials were transported there from another location, municipality or jurisdiction.

No open fires of any sort are allowed in areas designated as Municipal or Environmental Reserve, or in designated Restricted Burn Areas, without a permit.

If you own a piece of land 10 acres or less in a multi-parcel subdivision, the only burning you can do is as follows:

• Fire pit with regulation screen (13mm ½” mesh), No permit required.
• Fire pit without regulation screen, Fire permit required.
• Family fireworks on the days listed above, Fire permit required.

If you own a piece of land outside of a multi-parcel subdivision, there are no changes that affect you; however, a permit is still required year-round for anything other than a screened fire pit.

If you operate a business in an Industrial/ commercial area, the only burning you can do is in an incinerator that is completely enclosed with mesh screen (13mm ½”) covering the intake and exhaust. No other burning is allowed in these areas.

For more information, please contact Parkland County Fire Services 780-968-8400.