Open air burning

Open air burning is allowed in Mississauga, but you may need a permit depending on where, how and what you do it with.

You need a permit if you’re setting or maintaining a fire in any open place, yard, field or construction area not enclosed by a building or structure.

You don’t need a permit if you’re using:

  • Chimineas
  • Outdoor fireplaces
  • Outdoor appliances
  • Outdoor fire pits
  • Smoke houses
  • Cooking fires

If you’re planning on burning tree trimmings, branches, brush and hedge to discard them, you don’t need to. You can place them on your curb to be collected by the Region of Peel along with the usual curbside waste.

Permit types and cost

There are three types of permits that you can choose. All prices include HST.

  • 1-day permit: $33.26
  • 7-day permit: $133.03
  • 28-day permit: $232.80

How to apply

  1. Email fire.prevention@mississauga.ca or call 905-896-5908 and tell us which permit you want.
  2. Staff will email you the open air burn permit form for you to complete and send back to the City.
  3. When all the requirements are met, the City will send you an email with the link to the online payment page. You can pay your fee with debit, Visa, Mastercard or Amex.
  4. Once your payment is processed and the permit is ready, you’ll receive it by email, unless requested otherwise.

Safety, rules and restrictions

To set or maintain a fire outdoors, you must ensure outdoor appliances and cooking fires are safe. You must also follow the rules and regulations listed in the Open Air Burning By-law:

  • Ensure your fire is located at least 5 metres away from any building, structure, property line, tree, hedge, fence, roadway, overhead wire or anything else hat could catch fire and burn easily
  • Make sure that your fire won’t cause a nuisance through issues like excessive smoke or smell
  • Always watch and control a fire until it’s extinguished
  • Always Have a fire extinguisher or garden hose available