Province enters next phase of living with COVID-19 on Monday, March 14

Effective Monday, March 14, 2022 at 12:01 a.m. AST 

Masks will no longer be required at public facilities owned and operated by the City of Saint John. 

Facilities operated by third parties such as the Canada Games Aquatic Centre, TD Station, and Community Centres will provide their own direction and updates. 

Masks will not be required on Saint John Transit buses. 

All Common Council and Committee meetings will return to in-person attendance. The option to attend virtually will still be provided. 

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the City of Saint John has remained committed to the health and safety of its employees, of visitors to our workplaces and members of the public.  

While masks are no longer required in our facilities, mask usage should still be viewed as an excellent safety precaution due to the high level of community transmission. 

The City of Saint John reminds the public to be considerate and supportive of anyone who chooses to continue wearing a mask or practice any other precautions related to COVID-19. These measures are a personal choice and must be respected.

The City of Saint John encourages residents to protect their health and prevent the spread of COVID-19 in our community by getting vaccinated. To book your vaccination appointment, and for walk-in clinic information, visit COVID-19 vaccines (gnb.ca)

Please continue to follow the Government of New Brunswick and Government of Canada websites for the latest updates and information.

Outdoor recreational fires are a popular activity particularly during the summer months. While the Province of New Brunswick issues burning permits and advisories according to conditions in various areas of the province, cities in New Brunswick are responsible for the regulation and enforcement of controlled outside burning within their municipal boundaries. Each city has its own by-laws regarding outdoor fires. 

The Saint John Fire Department does not issue burning permits. Burning for the purposes of clearing land, property, or the disposal of any material does not constitute a recreational fire and is prohibited.

CITY OF SAINT JOHN OUTDOOR FIRE REGULATIONS

• Property owners are permitted to burn approved materials for recreational purposes in the proper manner.
• Recreational fires can be contained in an approved retail unit and/or at site that satisfies the requirements as listed
• Approved materials consist of clean wood or wood products (no chemically treated wood or building materials.)

GUIDELINES FOR BACKYARD FIREPLACES

• Must not be used on a combustible deck or surface unless approved for such use (ULC or WHI).
• Must be used with all screens in place and closed.
• No treated wood is to be used as fuel. (e.g. pentox or creosote).
• No refuse or garbage is to be burned.
• No chemically treated wood is to be used as fuel (e.g. Presto Logs).
• Must have a 10-litre pail of water or a connected garden hose nearby while in use.
• Must maintain proper clearance from combustibles (1.5m from buildings and fuel supplies, 3m from tall grass and 15m from wooded areas).
• Some units require clearance from bottom of unit to ground. 
• Must follow manufacturer's instructions.
• Must not be left unattended while in operation and all embers extinguished when fire has been completed and not left to burn out on its own.
• Must not be overloaded (screens must be kept closed except for when charging the unit).
• Open circles of rocks and tire rims (campfires or bonfires) are not permitted under this approval, and home-made devices must incorporate a screen having an opening of not more than 12mm when being used as a recreational fireplace.

Screened:

• 1.5 meters from combustibles
• 15 meters from wooded areas 
• 3 meters from tall grass
• Screens must be a maximum of 12 mm

Not Screened:

• 150 meters from wooded areas or other property structures
• Do not burn in high wind conditions
• Backyard fireplaces (retail units) must be used in conjunction with manufacturer's instructions and U.L.C., W.H.I. approved usage methods

Join in the fun this summer with our event series running Tuesdays to Saturdays all summer long. Free family-friendly activities will be offered weekly throughout the City.  

Our COVID-19 safety plan is in place for all events. Public health requirements must be met at all times, and City staff will be on site should there be any questions.  

This week’s events are as follows:  

Tuesday, August 24
Music in the Market Series 
12 noon – 1 p.m.  
Saint John City Market 
Live music with Matt Currie

Wednesday, August 25
Outdoor Yoga Series 
7 p.m. – 8 p.m. 
Queen Square
Yoga in the Park with Saint John Yoga Co-Op (Bring your own mat)  

Thursday, August 26
Saint John Night Market 
5 p.m. - 9 p.m.
North and South Market Streets
Live Music with Frank James from 6 p.m. - 9 p.m.

Friday, August 27
Open Air Art Series  
12 noon – 1 p.m. 
City Hall Plaza, 15 Market Square  
Performance by PRUDE 

Book a tour at one of our fire stations for your family, school group, or community group. Meet your local firefighters and learn about fire prevention and fire safety. Tours are offered at seven stations on weekdays.

10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Important information about fire station tours:

• A maximum of 25 people, including supervisors are allowed per tour.  
• Tours are approximately 30 – 45 minutes long.
• For kindergarten children, there must be one supervisor for every five (5) children. 
• For school-aged children, there must be one supervisor for every ten (10) children.  
• If the tour group must cancel or reschedule, administration must be notified 24 hours in advance. 
• Tours must be scheduled at least 21 days in advance. 
• Birthday party groups meeting the age requirement are welcome to tour a fire station, but may not hold party festivities at the station. (No cake and ice cream on site)
• If anyone in your group has special needs, please ensure you include that in your booking information.
• Transportation must be available at all times for your group in event of emergency. 
• Minimum age for station tours is four years old.

To book a tour of your local fire station, please call 506-658-2910.

Please note: All Fire Stations are operational facilities, and our emergency services work always comes first. Firefighters may be called away from the station at any time during your scheduled tour. If this happens, your tour will be cancelled, and the Fire Station must be vacated immediately. The Saint John Fire Department will not be able to reimburse you for any costs incurred.

Saint John’s by-laws are there to help protect the health and safety of every resident. But in order to be effective, our by-laws need to be enforced. The City's first priority in enforcement work is education—to help our residents understand what is required of them. City staff investigate complaints and inspect properties to make sure the standards laid out in the by-laws are met. Wherever possible, staff work with residents to resolve violations. Only if education and cooperation fail does the city turn to penalties and fines. 

To report a by-law infraction, please choose the specific by-law below that your complaint is related to.

Animal Control

Vacant and Dangerous Buildings

Unsightly Premises

Sanitation

Noise Control

Zoning Standards

Minimum Property Standards

Household hazardous waste is waste that has the potential to harm health and safety, or the environment. Hazardous waste includes items such as batteries, oil-based paint, motor oil, pesticides, poisons, drain cleaners, fuel, and bleach. Disposal of these items requires special care, so they can’t be included in regular garbage pickup. Household Hazardous Waste is accepted—free of charge—only by the Fundy Region HHW Depot at the Crane Mountain Landfill. 

Note, that all containers must be 20 litres or less, and you must bag and identify broken glass. 

See a full list of hazardous waste accepted

To make sure that travel by transit is comfortable and pleasant for every passenger, riders are asked to obey the following common-sense rules.

• Passengers are allowed to ride with bags and other items that they’re able to carry. Please ensure your items are not left in the aisles, and are not taking up an extra seat.
• Animals are allowed on the bus only in enclosed, secure carriers. Service dogs do not need to be enclosed.
• Bicycles cannot be taken onto the buses, however, a growing number of our newer buses now have special bike racks mounted on their fronts.
• No smoking is allowed on the bus or in bus shelters.
• When waiting for your bus, remain at marked bus stops and transit shelters.
• You may exit the buses only at marked bus stops. However, after dark, passengers may request the bus to stop between stops for safety reasons.
• If you notice another passenger in need of medical assistance, please immediately advise the driver who will radio emergency personnel to assist.

To make sure that travel by transit is comfortable and pleasant for every passenger, riders are asked to obey the following common-sense rules.

• Passengers are allowed to ride with bags and other items that they’re able to carry. Please ensure your items are not left in the aisles, and are not taking up an extra seat.
• Animals are allowed on the bus only in enclosed, secure carriers. Service dogs do not need to be enclosed.
• Bicycles cannot be taken onto the buses, however, a growing number of our newer buses now have special bike racks mounted on their fronts.
• No smoking is allowed on the bus or in bus shelters.
• When waiting for your bus, remain at marked bus stops and transit shelters.
• You may exit the buses only at marked bus stops. However, after dark, passengers may request the bus to stop between stops for safety reasons.
• If you notice another passenger in need of medical assistance, please immediately advise the driver who will radio emergency personnel to assist.

Home to the first publicly-funded high school in Canada, Saint John is dedicated to providing high quality and accessible education to the City’s young residents. Our public schools offer education in English and French Immersion through Anglophone South School District, and French education through District Scolaire Francophone Sud. There are also private school options available within the Greater Saint John region.

Beyond high school, the University of New Brunswick Saint John and the Saint John campus of the New Brunswick Community College offer further education for locals and visiting students alike.