The Township of Seguin is considering updates to the Open Air Burning By-law. To improve simplicity, the existing By-law has been split into two:
- A Fireworks By-law, and;
- An Open Air Burning By-law.
These standalone by-laws offer additional enforcement measures beyond what is currently available under existing regulations, promoting the well-being, safety, and enjoyment of the community. Prior to consideration of their approval, the Township is seeking public input on the draft by-laws through a survey and comment period.
Existing By-law
Currently the Township’s Open Air By-law allows private (consumer) fireworks to be set off 7 days a week, except during a period of High or Extreme Fire Hazard.
Proposed Fireworks By-law
Notable changes involve limiting consumer-grade fireworks displays to Victoria Day, Canada Day, New Years Eve and New Years day, including some abutting weekend days. In addition, prohibitions have been included to safeguard environmental and public safety, such as discharging consumer fireworks a minimum of 8 metres away from buildings and vehicles, wind speed factors, and to prohibit the use of fireworks on a road. Like the current by-law, commercial-grade fireworks still require a permit from the Fire Department prior to use.
Proposed Open Air Burning By-law
Much of the proposed By-law mirrors the current fire regulations. Notable changes include reformatting, strengthened wording, and ensuring consistency between the draft Open Air Burning By-law and Fireworks By-law. The penalties have also increased.
We have established a two-week commenting period. Your input is valuable to us. Public commenting will close August 4, 2023.
To facilitate public input and ensure transparency, we have provided the table below to highlight key changes proposed in the draft by-laws. You may also review the drafts under the "Documents" section on this page.
Please complete the survey below to provide comments and feedback on the proposed changes, as well as any additional aspects for consideration.
Kindly remember that these by-laws are currently undergoing evaluation and may be revised based on public feedback. Your input is important to the Township before presenting both by-laws to Council.
Fireworks Rules Comparison |
| Subject | Existing 2008-058 By-law | Proposed Change |
| Use of Sky Lanterns/Flying Lanterns | | |
| Prohibited Use of Fireworks During a High or Extreme Fire Rating | | |
| Prohibited Use of Fireworks During a Fire Ban | | |
| Age of User | | - Yes
No Person under the age of eighteen (18) years of age may set off or cause to be set off any Fireworks.
|
| Time Restrictions | | - Yes.
No Person shall set off any Consumer Fireworks except between dusk and 11:00 p.m. with the exception of New Years Eve/Day where Fireworks are permitted until 12:30am on New Years Day
|
| Date Restrictions | | - Yes.
No Person shall set off Consumer Fireworks on any day or days during the year except:
- Victoria Day and the Saturday and Sunday of that same holiday weekend;
- Canada Day,
and where Canada Day falls on a Monday or Tuesday, the preceding (before) Saturday and Sunday,
and where Canada Day falls on a Wednesday, Thursday or Friday, the proceeding (following) Friday and Saturday; and, - New Years Eve/Day from dusk until 12:30am on New Years Day.
|
| Additional Restrictions | | No Fireworks... - when the surface wind speed at the time of the display exceeds 40 km/h
- within 300 metres of any place where explosives, gasoline or other highly flammable substances are in large quantities
- that might create a danger or nuisance to persons or property
- in, on or into any building, or motor vehicle
- on or into any highway or private roadway
- on or into any land owned by the Township of Seguin
|
| Commercial Display Fireworks | - Permit required through the Fire Chief.
| |
| Enforcement & Penalty |
| Penalties | - Liable on conviction to a maximum penalty that shall not exceed $5,000.
| - Liable on conviction to a maximum penalty that shall not exceed $100,000 exclusive of costs under the provisions of the Municipal Act, 2001, as amended (Part III offences).
- Establishment of set fines and short-form wording (Part I offences) will be pursued. The maximum set fine that can be approved by the Ministry of the Attorney General’s Office is $1000.00.
|
| Hinder or Obstruct Provision | | - Yes.
No Person shall hinder or obstruct any Officer exercising a power or performing a duty under this By-law. Any Person who is alleged to have contravened any of the provisions of this By-law shall identify themselves to the Officer upon request, failure to do so shall be deemed to have obstructed or hindered the Officer.
|
Open Air Burning Rules Comparison |
| Subject | Existing 2008-058 By-law | Proposed Change |
| Fire Types | - Campfire, Daytime Outdoor Fire or Evening Outdoor Fire.
| - Campfire, Daytime Outdoor Fire or Evening Outdoor Fire
|
| Tending to Fire | - No person who starts an open air fire shall leave the fire unattended.
| - No proposed change, except broadening "unattended" to include a fire left to an individual below the age of eighteen (18) years.
|
| Safety Rules | Fire must: - be tended to;
- be under control;
- be extinguished before leaving the area;
- only contain dry wood, discarded wood by-products, brush, leaves or grass.
Fire must not: - contain kitchen waste, general garbage, construction materials, or materials made of or containing rubber, plastic, petroleum, synthetics or tar;
- decrease highway visibility;
- adversely affect an adjacent property
- spread out of contained area;
- be within 2m of any flammable materials;
- be present without proper tools or water readily accessible.
| |
| Fire Rating Rules | FOREST FIRE RATINGS | LOW | NO OPEN BURNING allowed, unless authorized by a Permit. Campfires are allowed. | | MODERATE | NO OPEN BURNING allowed, unless authorized by a Permit. Campfires are permitted. | | HIGH | NO OPEN BURNING allowed. Burn Permits are suspended.
NO FIREWORKS allowed. Campfires are permitted for cooking and warmth ONLY. | EXTREME/
FIRE BAN | NO OPEN BURNING allowed. Burn Permits are suspended.
NO FIREWORKS allowed.
NO CAMPFIRES allowed. |
| |
| Enforcement & Penalty |
| Penalties | - Liable on conviction to a maximum penalty that shall not exceed $5,000.
| - Liable on conviction to a maximum penalty that shall not exceed $100,000 exclusive of costs under the provisions of the Municipal Act, 2001, as amended (Part III offences).
- Establishment of set fines and short-form wording (Part I offences) will be pursued. The maximum set fine that can be approved by the Ministry of the Attorney General’s Office is $1000.00.
|
| Hinder or Obstruct Provision | | - Yes.
No Person shall hinder or obstruct any Officer exercising a power or performing a duty under this By-law. Any Person who is alleged to have contravened any of the provisions of this By-law shall identify themselves to the Officer upon request, failure to do so shall be deemed to have obstructed or hindered the Officer.
|
The Township of Seguin is considering updates to the Open Air Burning By-law. To improve simplicity, the existing By-law has been split into two:
- A Fireworks By-law, and;
- An Open Air Burning By-law.
These standalone by-laws offer additional enforcement measures beyond what is currently available under existing regulations, promoting the well-being, safety, and enjoyment of the community. Prior to consideration of their approval, the Township is seeking public input on the draft by-laws through a survey and comment period.
Existing By-law
Currently the Township’s Open Air By-law allows private (consumer) fireworks to be set off 7 days a week, except during a period of High or Extreme Fire Hazard.
Proposed Fireworks By-law
Notable changes involve limiting consumer-grade fireworks displays to Victoria Day, Canada Day, New Years Eve and New Years day, including some abutting weekend days. In addition, prohibitions have been included to safeguard environmental and public safety, such as discharging consumer fireworks a minimum of 8 metres away from buildings and vehicles, wind speed factors, and to prohibit the use of fireworks on a road. Like the current by-law, commercial-grade fireworks still require a permit from the Fire Department prior to use.
Proposed Open Air Burning By-law
Much of the proposed By-law mirrors the current fire regulations. Notable changes include reformatting, strengthened wording, and ensuring consistency between the draft Open Air Burning By-law and Fireworks By-law. The penalties have also increased.
We have established a two-week commenting period. Your input is valuable to us. Public commenting will close August 4, 2023.
To facilitate public input and ensure transparency, we have provided the table below to highlight key changes proposed in the draft by-laws. You may also review the drafts under the "Documents" section on this page.
Please complete the survey below to provide comments and feedback on the proposed changes, as well as any additional aspects for consideration.
Kindly remember that these by-laws are currently undergoing evaluation and may be revised based on public feedback. Your input is important to the Township before presenting both by-laws to Council.
Fireworks Rules Comparison |
| Subject | Existing 2008-058 By-law | Proposed Change |
| Use of Sky Lanterns/Flying Lanterns | | |
| Prohibited Use of Fireworks During a High or Extreme Fire Rating | | |
| Prohibited Use of Fireworks During a Fire Ban | | |
| Age of User | | - Yes
No Person under the age of eighteen (18) years of age may set off or cause to be set off any Fireworks.
|
| Time Restrictions | | - Yes.
No Person shall set off any Consumer Fireworks except between dusk and 11:00 p.m. with the exception of New Years Eve/Day where Fireworks are permitted until 12:30am on New Years Day
|
| Date Restrictions | | - Yes.
No Person shall set off Consumer Fireworks on any day or days during the year except:
- Victoria Day and the Saturday and Sunday of that same holiday weekend;
- Canada Day,
and where Canada Day falls on a Monday or Tuesday, the preceding (before) Saturday and Sunday,
and where Canada Day falls on a Wednesday, Thursday or Friday, the proceeding (following) Friday and Saturday; and, - New Years Eve/Day from dusk until 12:30am on New Years Day.
|
| Additional Restrictions | | No Fireworks... - when the surface wind speed at the time of the display exceeds 40 km/h
- within 300 metres of any place where explosives, gasoline or other highly flammable substances are in large quantities
- that might create a danger or nuisance to persons or property
- in, on or into any building, or motor vehicle
- on or into any highway or private roadway
- on or into any land owned by the Township of Seguin
|
| Commercial Display Fireworks | - Permit required through the Fire Chief.
| |
| Enforcement & Penalty |
| Penalties | - Liable on conviction to a maximum penalty that shall not exceed $5,000.
| - Liable on conviction to a maximum penalty that shall not exceed $100,000 exclusive of costs under the provisions of the Municipal Act, 2001, as amended (Part III offences).
- Establishment of set fines and short-form wording (Part I offences) will be pursued. The maximum set fine that can be approved by the Ministry of the Attorney General’s Office is $1000.00.
|
| Hinder or Obstruct Provision | | - Yes.
No Person shall hinder or obstruct any Officer exercising a power or performing a duty under this By-law. Any Person who is alleged to have contravened any of the provisions of this By-law shall identify themselves to the Officer upon request, failure to do so shall be deemed to have obstructed or hindered the Officer.
|
Open Air Burning Rules Comparison |
| Subject | Existing 2008-058 By-law | Proposed Change |
| Fire Types | - Campfire, Daytime Outdoor Fire or Evening Outdoor Fire.
| - Campfire, Daytime Outdoor Fire or Evening Outdoor Fire
|
| Tending to Fire | - No person who starts an open air fire shall leave the fire unattended.
| - No proposed change, except broadening "unattended" to include a fire left to an individual below the age of eighteen (18) years.
|
| Safety Rules | Fire must: - be tended to;
- be under control;
- be extinguished before leaving the area;
- only contain dry wood, discarded wood by-products, brush, leaves or grass.
Fire must not: - contain kitchen waste, general garbage, construction materials, or materials made of or containing rubber, plastic, petroleum, synthetics or tar;
- decrease highway visibility;
- adversely affect an adjacent property
- spread out of contained area;
- be within 2m of any flammable materials;
- be present without proper tools or water readily accessible.
| |
| Fire Rating Rules | FOREST FIRE RATINGS | LOW | NO OPEN BURNING allowed, unless authorized by a Permit. Campfires are allowed. | | MODERATE | NO OPEN BURNING allowed, unless authorized by a Permit. Campfires are permitted. | | HIGH | NO OPEN BURNING allowed. Burn Permits are suspended.
NO FIREWORKS allowed. Campfires are permitted for cooking and warmth ONLY. | EXTREME/
FIRE BAN | NO OPEN BURNING allowed. Burn Permits are suspended.
NO FIREWORKS allowed.
NO CAMPFIRES allowed. |
| |
| Enforcement & Penalty |
| Penalties | - Liable on conviction to a maximum penalty that shall not exceed $5,000.
| - Liable on conviction to a maximum penalty that shall not exceed $100,000 exclusive of costs under the provisions of the Municipal Act, 2001, as amended (Part III offences).
- Establishment of set fines and short-form wording (Part I offences) will be pursued. The maximum set fine that can be approved by the Ministry of the Attorney General’s Office is $1000.00.
|
| Hinder or Obstruct Provision | | - Yes.
No Person shall hinder or obstruct any Officer exercising a power or performing a duty under this By-law. Any Person who is alleged to have contravened any of the provisions of this By-law shall identify themselves to the Officer upon request, failure to do so shall be deemed to have obstructed or hindered the Officer.
|
