Know the Rules on Open Burning and Yard Waste Disposal This Spring
As spring begins, the City of Windsor urges residents to be mindful of open burning regulations and proper yard waste disposal procedures to ensure community safety and compliance with municipal by-laws.
In response to recent incidents, Windsor Fire & Rescue Services reminds residents that open burning is strictly prohibited without a valid permit. "So far, in 2025, our emergency services have already responded to more than 50 incidents related to improper open burning," says Fire Chief Jamie Waffle.
Under the City of Windsor by-law that took effect in February 2025, residents found conducting open burns without approval face a cost recovery charge equivalent to Ministry of Transportation (MTO) rates, currently totalling $570.50 per hour per piece of apparatus (minimum one-hour fee), plus consumable inventory and a 10% administrative fee, plus HST.
This measure aims to recover costs associated with services and dispatch of emergency vehicles. City Council has approved this measure to impose a cost-recovery charge for cases where a citizen's application has been denied or the citizen has not requested an open-air burning permit at all but still chooses to proceed with burning.
For further details on permit applications and charges, including updates to the MTO rate, please refer to Open Air Burning – Windsor Fire & Rescue Services.
Proper Yard Waste Disposal
With the arrival of warmer weather, many residents are gearing up to tidy their yards. It's important to note that curbside collection for yard waste will start in mid-April. Until then, residents are encouraged to utilize the Public Drop Off Depot, where yard waste can be disposed of free of charge throughout the year.
Ensure yard waste is properly prepared for collection:
- Place leaves, garden waste, branches, brush, tree, and hedge trimmings in approved containers, such as cardboard boxes, paper yard waste bags, or garbage cans.
- Branches cannot exceed 3 inches (7.5 centimetres) in diameter. Brush and branches should be tied in bundles no more than 4 feet (1.2 metres) in length and 3 feet (0.9 metres) in diameter and weighing no more than 44 pounds (20 kilograms).
- Do not use wire to tie bundles. Loose piles of brush will not be collected.
- Thorny branches should be securely contained to prevent injury.