Take Action Burlington

Did you know that the City of Burlington has an idling control bylaw to limit unnecessary idling and that idling for more than one minute can result in a $120 ticket?

Idling and Climate Change

In April 2019, Burlington City Council passed a Climate Emergency Declaration “that Council and staff immediately increase the priority of the fight against climate change.” A lot is taking place to address climate change, as noted in several Take Action Burlington blog posts and in annual progress updates to City Council, by working towards implementing the following:

• Corporate Energy and Emissions Management Plan with a net zero carbon emission target of 2040 as stated in Vision 2040: Burlington’s Strategic Plan 2015-2040.
• Climate Action Plan with a net zero carbon emission target of 2050.
• Climate Resilient Burlington: A Plan for Adapting to Our Warmer, Wetter and Wilder Weather, the City’s first climate adaptation plan.

In Burlington, the transportation sector accounts for about 40 per cent of our local greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Turning your engine off when not in use is a simple and effective low-cost way to reduce your personal GHG emissions that contribute to climate change.

Idling Myths

Myth: Turning a vehicle on and off produces more emissions than letting a vehicle idle.

Reality: According to Natural Resources Canada, idling for over 10 seconds uses more fuel and produces more carbon dioxide compared to restarting your engine.

Myth: It’s cold outside. I need to idle to warm up my vehicle.

Reality: The best way to warm up your vehicle is to drive it. This will help lower emissions, reduce damage to your vehicle components, save money, and eliminate the risk of idling or ‘warm-up’ vehicle theft. Across Alberta every winter, police services run “Operation Cold Start” where officers patrol neighbourhoods watching for empty idling vehicles and talk to the owner. As the police stated: “people want to sit in a warm vehicle … unfortunately so do thieves.” Reminders have also been issued by Halton Regional Police Service in the past.

Need an Idle Free Zone sign for your business or school?

Idling signs measure 30 x 45 cm and can be purchased for $30.65 + HST. Email environment@burlington.ca to order.

Run a school campaign

The City provides resources to schools running idling awareness campaigns. These campaigns remind parents and caregivers to turn their engines off while waiting to pick up students. Email environment@burlington.ca for the following items:

• Posters
• Bookmarks
• Stickers
• Banner (approximately 12 x 3 feet, two-week loan) 

Report excessive idling

If you see repeated excessive idling (Monday to Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.), report it to Burlington Parking Services at 905-335-7777 or email city@burlington.ca. If it’s after hours, call Halton Regional Police Service’s non-emergency line at 905-825-4777 and ask for dispatch.

Other ways to reduce your transportation emissions

For short trips, walk or ride your bike. Check out Burlington Transit routes in your neighbourhood or take the GO train to surrounding regions. Burlington Transit currently offers free transit for children and adults aged 65-plus all day and after 6 p.m., and all day on weekends for youth 13-19. Free monthly passes are also available for eligible Burlington residents.

If you need to drive, have you considered an electric vehicle (EV)? The Plug’n Drive Electric Vehicle Discovery Centre in Toronto provides the ability to test drive a range of EVs without the pressure of having to purchase a vehicle. They can also help you with your EV charging options. To make it easier for residents, the City has hosted Plug’n Drive events in Burlington, most recently in October 2024. While no upcoming events are currently planned, any future events will be promoted at TakeActionBurlington.ca. And, to help encourage residents to Make the Switch to lower emitting options, the City offers free EV charging at many of the City’s public parking lots.

A little history about idling in Burlington

Idling was first flagged by the Burlington Sustainable Development Advisory Committee in 1999 and a Council resolution was adopted in 2000 to develop an education strategy and present a draft bylaw one year from the implementation of the education strategy. An idling campaign was launched on Clean Air Day in June 2003 with a media event at City Hall. Posters and bookmarks were distributed to all public schools and over 100 outdoor metal signs were posted at City municipal facilities and schools. City staff were also subject to a new idling control policy and information was included on their pay stubs. Burlington was also part of GTA wide idling blitzes in 2003 and 2005.

Burlington’s first idling bylaw for unnecessary idling was approved by City Council in 2004 and came into effect in May 2005. At the time, the idling limit was three minutes with exemptions. The bylaw, which also applies to City staff, was strengthened in 2009 reducing the unnecessary idling limit to one-minute and again in 2014 when it was amalgamated with the parking bylaw for housekeeping purposes. The bylaw is now officially known as the Parking and Idling Bylaw.

Two decades later, Burlington continues to profile idling through blog posts such as this, social media campaigns, communications with staff, distribution of campaign material for schools, etc. Burlington has produced different communications material on idling over the years to keep the issue top of mind. As such, this material has been requested for use by other municipalities or non-profit organizations across Canada and sustainability staff have had numerous conversations with staff from other jurisdictions in Canada and the United States about the issue.

Take Action Burlington. Turn your engine OFF. Collectively we can make a difference!