New burn bylaw now in effect in Port Hope

The Municipality of Port Hope begins the year with a new burning bylaw and burn permit system. Notable changes from the last bylaw include allowance for recreational campfires in the urban area under certain circumstances and conditions. 

Port Hope’s director of protective services and emergency management Jason Williams said the previous bylaw was in place for more than a decade and prohibited any open air burning in the urban area.

Williams said applying for a permit is free and can be done online. To sign up for an account and apply for your permit, visit porthopefire.burnpermits.com. Then once the application is approved, call the number provided to activate it before each burn event, at which time it is good for 24 hours. 

For those without a permit, when Fire and Emergency Services respond to a non-compliant fire, there is a fee of $100 for a first attendance and $500 for any subsequent attendance within six months.