Mayor’s Monday Mailbag – July 5, 2021 – What are the regulations around fireworks in Burlington?

Welcome to the Mayor’s Monday Mailbag, an initiative Burlington Mayor Marianne Meed Ward and the Mayor’s Office has launched to share weekly answers to questions from the public we’ve received through our main email inbox at mayor@burlington.ca or the Mayor’s social media platforms.At the end of the month, we’ll publish a roundup of those most pressing questions we’ve received in the weeks prior.Mayor’s Monday Mailbag – July 5, 2021QUESTION:“Fireworks at all hours of the night and for 4 nights in a row?! That's ridiculous! Can the City start enforcing its bylaws?! I get celebrating a holiday, but why can't it be limited to 1 night over a long weekend?”ANSWER:We empathize with the concerns from residents related to fireworks in our City. It's an ongoing issue to manage and control appropriate use.Burlington City Council recently updated our bylaw to restrict times, days, and sale of fireworks.BYLAW

The sale of family fireworks is regulated by the City's Business Licensing Bylaw. Family fireworks must be used in accordance with the City's bylaw that regulates the setting off of fireworks:

• The setting off of family fireworks is only permitted on Victoria Day and Canada Day.
• Setting off of family fireworks are restricted from dusk (sunset) until 11:00 p.m.
• No person under the age of eighteen years shall set off any firework(s).
• No person shall use, set off any firework(s) in such a place or in such a manner as might create danger or constitute a nuisance to any person or property, or do or cause or allow any unsafe act or omission at the time and place for the setting off of any fireworks.
• Family fireworks shall not be discharged within 10 m of buildings, structures, decks, vehicles, accessory buildings or other places where such setting off might create a danger or nuisance to any person or property.
• Family fireworks shall only be discharged on private property. No person shall set off any fireworks on any highway, street and not on public property including city parks or school yards.

ENFORCEMENTEnforcement of the City's bylaws is regularly conducted, for example, several large and illegal beach parties (that included the illegal lighting of fireworks) were recently broken up in June 2021.However, it can be difficult to isolate where fireworks across the City are coming from -- which property. By the time bylaw officers arrive the fireworks are over.HOW RESIDENTS CAN HELP?Residents can help the City of Burlington control and stop illegal fireworks in the following ways:

• For Noise Complaints
  • Noise complaints resulting from the discharge of fireworks can be directed to the Halton Regional Police Service (HRPS) Non-Emergency Line: 905-825-4777
    • Calling the HRPS Non-Emergency Line helps build the database for where these fireworks are coming from, to schedule proactive patrols.
  • or the City's bylaw office after hours answering service: 905-335-7731, press #3
  • *PLEASE NOTE: calls to police and bylaw are taken in priority, with more serious personal or property matters dealt with before noise/fireworks
• For Fire Hazards
  • If you have a fire safety concern related to the use of fireworks, please contact the Fire Department's Non-Emergency Line: 905-637-8253
  • Private firework displays may require permits from the Fire Chief and/or designates
  • For any fire emergency call 9-1-1
• For Public/Personal Safety
  • If you have a personal safety concern related to fireworks, contact the HRPS Non-Emergency Line: 905-825-4777
• For Licensing and Sale of Fireworks
  • The building bylaw section licenses and regulates the sales of fireworks.
  • If there are retail sales of fireworks and no visual business license posted please direct these complaints to: 905-335-7731, press #3 or email: building@burlington.ca

For more details about fireworks and the City of Burlington's bylaw, please visit burlinton.ca/fireworksRELATED LINKS:

• Mayor’s Monday Mailbag — June 2021 Roundup

—*Posted by John Bkila, Mayor’s Media and Digital Communications Specialist