Open air fire bylaw
This bylaw is a consolidated digital version of the official legal document. It is not an exact reproduction and is for information purposes only.
For any questions related to this bylaw contact 519-747-8785 or municipalenforcement@waterloo.ca.
Bylaw number: 2011 - 124
Last passed by council: November 7, 2011
Being a bylaw to regulate open air fires within the City of Waterloo
- Definitions
- General prohibition
- Exemptions
- Inspections
- Order to discontinue activity
- Work order
- Remedial action
- Enforcement
- Penalties
- Fees and charges
- Short title
- Severability
- Repeal
- Coming into force
Whereas section 7.l(1)(b) of the Fire Protection and Prevention Act, 1997, S.O. 1997, c. 4, as amended (the ''Act"), states that a council of a municipality may pass bylaws regulating the setting of open air fires, including establishing the times during which open air fires may be set;
And whereas section 7.1(3) of the Act states that a bylaw under that section may deal with different areas of the municipality differently;
And whereas section 7.1(4) of the Act states that a municipality may appoint an officer to enter upon 1and and into structures at any reasonable time to inspect the land and structures to determine whether bylaws enacted in accordance with that section are being complied with;
Now therefore the Council of The Corporation of the City of Waterloo enacts as follows:
1.0 Definitions
1. In this bylaw:
"Act" means the Fire Protection and Prevention Act, 1997, S.O. 1.997, c. 4, as amended;
"building" means:
(a) a structure occupying an area greater than ten square metres consisting of a wall, roof and floor or any of them or a structural system serving the function thereof, including all plumbing, works, fixtures and service systems appurtenant thereto;
(b) a structure occupying an area of ten square metres or less that contains plumbing, including the plumbing appurtenant thereto; and,
(c) structures designated in the Building Code, Ontario Regulation 3 50/06, as amended.
"Laurel Creek camp site" means a site at the Laurel Creek Conservation Area that is designated for camping and for lighting open air fires using solid fuel;
"Chief Fire Prevention Officer" or "CFPO" means the Chief Fire Prevention Officer of the City or his or her designate;
"City" means The Corporation of the City of Waterloo;
"contained fire" means a fire that is contained in a chiminea, fire pit, barbeque pit or similar vessel;
"Council" means the Council of the City;
"Municipal Law Enforcement Officer" means a person appointed by the City under s. "1.5 of the Police Services Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. P.15;
"open air fire" means a fire that takes place outside of a building, including a contained fire;
"person" means an individual, corporation, unincorporated association or partnership;
"Region" means the Regional Municipality of Waterloo;
"solid fuel" means any combustible material that is in the form of a solid, such as paper,· wood or coal; and,
"strike" means a strike as defined in the Labour Relations Act, 1995, S.O. 1995, c. 1, Sched. A, as amended.
2.0 General prohibitions
2.1 No person shall set or maintain an open air fire using solid fuel, or permit an open air fire using solid fuel to be set or maintained, at any time.
3.0 Exemptions
This bylaw shall not apply to:
(a) the City;
(b) the Region;
(c) a Laurel Creek camp site; or,
(d) a site where a strike is occurring.
In addition to section 3 of this bylaw, any person may apply to the Chief Fire Prevention Officer to be granted an exemption from section 2 of this bylaw. The Chief Fire Prevention Officer may grant or refuse an application or grant an application with conditions.
Any exemption granted by the Chief Fire Prevention Officer shall specify the time period during which it is effective and may contain such terms and conditions-as the Chief Fire Prevention Officer sees fit.
An application to the Chief Fire Prevention Officer for an exemption from section 2 of this bylaw shall be made in writing to the Chief Fire Prevention Officer, at least thirty (30) days prior to the commencement of the proposed open air fire using solid fuel, and shall include the following:
(a) the name and address of the applicant(s);
(b) the name and address of the organization(s) represented by the applicant(s), if applicable;
(c) the purpose or rationale; if any, behind having an open air fire using solid fuel;
(d) the date(s), time(s) and location(s) of the proposed open air fire using solid fuel;
(e) the name of the contact person or persons who will be supervising the open air fire using solid fuel;
(f) the applicable fee, as set out in the City's Fees and Charges bylaw, as amended; and,
(g) such further and other information as the Chief Fire Prevention officer may request.
In determining whether or not to grant (with or without conditions) or refuse an exemption to this bylaw, the Chief Fire Prevention Officer shall consider the following:
(a) the health and safety of the citizens of the City;
(b) the general intent and purpose of this bylaw; and,
(c) whether the applicant(s) have complied with previous exemptions that may have been granted under this bylaw.
The Chief Fire Prevention Officer may immediately revoke an applicant's exemption from section 2 of this bylaw if the applicant violates the terms or · conditions of · the applicant's exemption.
4.0 Inspections
A Municipal Law. Enforcement Officer may enter upon land and into structures at any reasonable time to inspect the land and structures to determine whether this bylaw is being complied with.
5.0 Order to discontinue activity
Where a Municipal Law Enforcement Officer has reasonable grounds to believe that a contravention of this bylaw has occurred, a Municipal Law Enforcement Officer may · make an order requiring the person who contravened this bylaw, or who caused or permitted the contravention, or the owner of the land on which the contravention occurred, to discontinue the contravening activity.
An order under s. 10 of this bylaw shall set out:
(a) reasonable particulars of the contravention adequate to identify the contravention and the location of the land on which the contravention occurred; and,
(b) the date by which there must be compliance with the order.
Any person who contravenes an order under s. 10 of this bylaw is guilty of an offence.
6.0 Work order
Where a Municipal Law Enforcement Officer has reasonable grounds to believe that a contravention of this bylaw has occurred, a Municipal Law Enforcement Officer may make an order requiring the person who contravened this bylaw, or who caused or permitted the contravention, or the owner of the land on which the contravention occurred, to do work to correct the contravention.
An order under s. 13 of this bylaw shall set out:
(a) reasonable particulars of the contravention adequate to identify the contravention and the location of the land on which the contravention occurred; and,
(b) the work to be done and the date by which the work must be done.
An order under s. 13 of this bylaw may require work to be done even though the facts which constitute the contravention of this bylaw were present before this bylaw came into force.
Any person who contravenes an order under s. 13 of this bylaw is guilty of an offence.
7.0 Remedial action
If a person fails to do a matter or thing, including comply with an order under this bylaw, as directed or required by this bylaw, the City may, in default of it being done by the person directed or required to do it, do the matter or thing at the person's expense. The City may recover the costs of doing a matter or thing from the person directed or required to do it by action or by adding the costs to the tax roll and collecting them in the same manner as municipal taxes.
The costs outlined in s. 17 of this bylaw shall include interest calculated at a rate of 15 per cent per annum, calculated for the period commencing on the day the City incurs the costs and ending on the day the costs, including the interest, are paid in full.
The amount of the costs, including interest, constitutes a lien on the land upon the registration in the proper land registry office of a notice of lien. The lien is in respect of all costs that are payable at the time the notice is registered plus interest accrued to the date the payment is made. Upon receiving payment of all costs payable plus interest accrued to the date of payment, the City shall register a discharge of the lien in the proper land registry office.
8.0 Enforcement
This bylaw may be enforced by Municipal Law Enforcement Officers and Police Officers.
University of Waterloo Special Constables and Wilfrid Laurier University Special Constables are hereby authorized to enforce this bylaw on property belonging to their respective Universities.
9.0 Penalties
Every person who contravenes any of the provisions of this bylaw is guilty of an offence and pursuant to section 429 of the Municipal Act, 2001 all contraventions of this bylaw. are designated as continuing offences.
Every person, excluding a corporation, who is convicted of an offence, is liable to a minimum fine of Four Hundred Dollars ($400.00) and a maximum fine of Twenty-Five Thousand Dollars ($25,000.00) for the first offence and a maximum fine of Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00) for a subsequent offence.
Every corporation which is convicted of an offence is liable to a maximum fine of Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00) for the first offence and One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000.00) for a subsequent offence.
In addition to the fine amounts set out in sections 23 and 24 of this bylaw, for each day or part of a day that an offence continues, the minimum fine shall be Four Hundred Fifty Dollars ($450.00) and the maximum fine shall be Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00). The total of all daily fines for the offence is not limited to One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000.00).
10.0 Fees and charges
Council may impose fees and charges to recover its costs in relation to the administration and enforcement of this bylaw.
11.0 Short title
This bylaw shall be known as the "Open Air Fire bylaw."
12.0 Severability
If a Court of competent jurisdiction should declare any section or part of a section of this bylaw to be invalid, such section or part of a section shall not be construed as having persuaded or influenced Council to pass the remainder of this bylaw and it is hereby declared that the remainder of this bylaw shall be valid and shall remain in full force and effect.
13.0 Repeal
Bylaw 96-87 of the City is hereby repealed as well as all bylaws amending the same and any portion of the Municipal Code relating to open air fires.
14.0 Coming into force
This bylaw shall come into force and effect on January 1, 2012.