Annual April Burn Ban lifted in Kawartha Lakes as of May 1, 2026
Kawartha Lakes – The annual April Burn Ban in Kawartha Lakes has been lifted effective May 1, 2026.
The decision to lift the burn ban follows a comprehensive assessment of environmental conditions and fire risk factors conducted by Kawartha Lakes Fire Rescue Services and the municipality.
The Burn Hazard Index has been set to High, if you are planning on burning please use caution and follow the open air burning requirements laid out on our Burn Bans, Permits and By-Laws page.
As of May 1, 2024 the Fire Services applications have been moved to our new online Public Access Portal.
The online portal will require users to create an account. This account will allow you to make online applications for burn permits, fireworks permits, and Fire Service property and incident file searches all in one convenient location. The online service will allow users to pay online through a PayPal account, if you don’t have a PayPal account you’ll be able to checkout as a guest with a credit or Visa Debit card.
Check out the Public Access Portal How to Guide for more information on how to sign up and use the portal. If you need help applying for a Fire Services application specifically, read the Public Access Portal How to Guide for Fire Services.
To create an account and start a Fire Services application, head to the online Public Access Portal.
Permit Issuance and Regulations:
Municipal Service Centres are still able to provide residents with access to Regular Burn Permits, Regular Agricultural Burn Permits, and Regular Annual Burn Permits; any other applications will have to be completed through the online portal or by contacting Fire Services.
The following services are only available at the Fire Department, they will not be available in the online Public Access Portal or at a Municipal Service Centre:
- Propane RSMP Inspection Request
- Fire Inspection Request
Once processed your permit will be available to print from the online portal.
Permits will not be issued within a “built up area” as defined by By-law 2016-110 (download) “built up area” means an area with buildings on one or both sides of the road with 23 metres or less between them with a minimum grouping of five buildings. Building means school, church, residential dwelling, commercial and industrial structure. Please note some types of permits may require the Fire Service to conduct a site visit. It can take up to seven business days for you to receive a site visit.
For further information, please contact:
- Fire Prevention Office: 705-324-5731 or by email at fireprevention@kawarthalakes.ca
- Municipal Law Enforcement Office: 705-324-9411 extension 1212 or toll-free 1-888-822-2225 or by email at bylawcomplaints@kawarthalakes.ca
- Burn Complaints (Kawartha Lakes Police and Fire Dispatch Non-Emergency): 705-324-2191 during active burning only
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Contact Us
Kawartha Lakes
P.O. Box 9000, 26 Francis Street
Lindsay, ON, K9V 5R8
Telephone: 705-324-9411
Toll free at 1-888-822-2225
After-hours emergencies: 1-877-885-7337
