The OBSCR governs the burning of vegetative material associated with a range of activities, such as land clearing, forestry operations and agriculture. It sets out the conditions under which open burning of vegetative debris can be authorized. The revised regulation mainly supports the objectives of reducing impacts on human health, enabling and encouraging compliance, and minimizing undue costs to industry. 

The regulation does not generally prohibit burning but rather aims to ensure that open burning is conducted with minimal risk to air quality. While facilitating some necessary open burning practices, the new regulation also maintains air protection measures and alternatives to burning are strongly encouraged. 

• Please view the presentation Open Burning Smoke Control Regulation: Information Webinar. to learn more about the new regulation. 
• The OBSCR General Factsheet provides a summary of the main requirements for open burning under the new regulation. 

Important Changes in the New Regulation

• Province is divided into three smoke sensitivity zones: High, Medium and Low.
• Burning requirements are strictest in the “High” zone immediately around communities, while burning is made easier in the “Low” zone away from population centers.
• Increases to mandatory setbacks from residences, businesses, schools and hospitals.
• New provisions to facilitate burning required for community wildfire risk reduction.
• New provisions to facilitate burning diseased debris.
• New provisions to encourage the use of cleaner-burning technologies.
• Exemptions for backyard burning and agricultural burning are defined.
• Flexibility to various regulatory requirements through substitution orders.
• Use of custom ventilation forecasts to increase burn windows.