Burn permits are required for all open-air fires in the Township. Outdoor burning is not permitted in the subdivisions of Atironto and Woods.

A separate permit is now required for those who plan to have a windrow burn.

When you plan to burn, you must contact the Township Office at 613-283-7478 during regular business hours. There is no cost for this permit and it is NOT necessary to renew it each year. Permits accessed online must be filled out and emailed to the Fire Chief, who will then issue a permit number in a reply email within two weeks.

Download a Burn Permit Application Form

Every home in Ontario must have working alarms on every story and outside all sleeping areas. IT’S THE LAW!

• Homeowners - It is the responsibility of homeowners to install and maintain smoke alarms on every story of their home and outside sleeping areas.
• Landlords - It is the responsibility of landlords to ensure their rental properties comply with the law.
• Tenants - If you are a tenant of a rental property and do not have the required number of smoke alarms, contact your landlord immediately. It is against the law for tenants to remove the batteries or tamper with the alarm in any way.

When installing smoke alarms, refer to the manufacturer’s instructions for information about correct placement.

• Test your smoke alarms every month using the test button.
• Replace smoke alarm batteries at least once a year, and whenever the low-battery warning chirps.
• Smoke alarms don’t last forever. Replace smoke alarms with new ones if they are more than ten years old.
• Steam from the shower or cooking in the oven, stove or toaster can cause smoke alarms to activate. DO NOT REMOVE THE BATTERY. Instead, try moving the alarm to a different location, or purchase a smoke alarm with a hush feature that will temporarily silence the alarm.
• Carbon monoxide alarms will now be required near all sleeping areas in residential homes and in the service rooms, and adjacent sleeping areas in multi-residential units. Carbon monoxide alarms can be hardwired, battery-operated or plugged into the wall. 

Failure to comply with the fire code smoke alarm requirements could result in a $235 ticket or a fine between $50,000 and $100,000.

Smoke/CO_² Alarm Inspections

Montague Township Fire Department would like to help your family stay safe. As part of a community‐wide fire‐prevention effort, firefighters from the Montague Fire Department will visit local residents to inspect smoke/CO_² alarms, replace batteries or help install alarms. Help with a fire‐safety plan for your home is also available.

Appointments to have two firefighters visit your home can be made by calling the Montague Fire Department at 283‐7478. There is no charge for this service.

Each year, on the second Saturday of September, the Montague Volunteer Fire Department holds a Pit Barbecue Fundraiser for at Rosedale Hall, 657 Rosedale Road South. This famous pit barbecue offers delicious beef and pork cooked overnight in a large pit, so be sure to watch our social media pages, website and August tax bill mailout for ticket information.

Household Hazardous Waste

The Household Hazardous Waste Depot is OPEN for the 2024 season. The depot is located in Carleton Place, at 128 Patterson Crescent. Proof of residency is required! See here for more information: https://carletonplace.ca/waste-collection-p2418.php#HHW

Or, you can follow this link to determine where to take hazardous waste: https://rpra.ca/find-a-collection-site/

Garbage Tags

Effective January 1, 2023, the Township of Montague is moving forward with two (2) untagged bags of garbage each week. Additional bags must have a municipal bag tag. There will be NO allocation of municipal bag tags, however tags can still be purchased for $6 each at the Township Office. Residents who have not yet picked up the 2022 allocation of tags may do so until January 9, 2023.

For more information about these changes please click on 4046-2024 Procedure for Waste Collection and Disposal By-Law

How often is garbage collected?

• Garbage is collected once a week.
• Only non-recyclable items should be placed in the garbage.
• Curbside collection is for bagged household garbage, blue or yellow box recycling only. No large item pick up, no leaf & yard waste.

Starting July 1st, 2023, the Township of Montague, like many other communities across Ontario, will no longer be responsible for the provision of recycling services, as Circular Materials will begin to manage recycling services for residential properties.  

Residential Concerns

• Starting July 1st, all services will operate the same (there are no changes to recycling collection or accepted materials), Circular Materials will continue to provide the same service level.
• Residents with recycling complaints, concerns, or requests for a new or replacement recycling bin will no longer contact the Township office, instead they will need to contact Emterra directly at 1-888-597-1541 or .
• Starting July 1st, residents can visit the Circular Materials website at www.circularmaterials.ca for information pertaining to recycling. We will update our website with recycling information as it becomes available from Circular Materials.

 Dual stream Recycling is a system where recyclable materials are separated into two streams - Containers and Fibres. Your recyclables - must be separated and placed in two separate recycling boxes. Please do not bag any recyclables – only shredded paper will be accepted in a clear plastic bag on fibre weeks.

- Containers (Plastics) belong in a yellow box.

*All items should be rinsed and be free of grease, food, and other residue.*

• Plastics  - Plastics labelled #1, 2, 3, 5, 6 & 7 – Including plastic bottles, lids, plastic food containers, jugs and trays
• Glass – Glass bottles and jars
• Metal – Tin, Beverage containers, aluminum cans, empty steel paint cans (no plastic paint cans or cans with plastic bottoms)
• Food and Beverage cartons – Boxed containers for beverages and soups (milk [dairy, soy, almond, etc.], juice, soup, broth)
• No Styrofoam

- Fibres (Paper) belong in a blue box.

• Paper – Newspaper, magazines, printer paper and writing paper, junk mail, and shredded paper (placed in clear plastic bag)
• Cardboard – Corrugated cardboard, brown, paper bags, box board - Folded down into bundles no larger than 4’ x 4’ x 1’

Please follow the acceptable items guidelines to know what material to put in which box.

Recycling is to be placed roadside by 7 a.m.

For Recycling Collection questions or complaints please contact Emterra at 1-888-597-1541 or by emailing

The Township shall complete a large item collection twice yearly; the first being the first full week of June, and the second being the first full week of October.

2024 large item dates are scheduled for June 3rd and 7th, and October 7th and 11th. If your regular collection date is Wednesday, your Large Item date will be the MONDAY. Friday regular collection and Large Item is the same day, based on truck availability. Large Items require ONE (1) SILVER tag, which can be purchased for $6.00 each at the Township office (cash, debit or cheque), Milano's Pizza in Merrickville (cash only) or Mr. Gas in Smiths Falls (cash only).

Every appliance must have an appropriate tag stating that the refrigeration has been removed by a certified technician.

Reducing waste = climate action

• Change for climate by reducing your waste and by diverting it properly. Garbage sent to landfill contributes to climate-changing greenhouse gas emissions

Composting

• Save money on bag tags and compost your kitchen and yard waste. Composters can be purchased at the Township Office for $47.00 (tax included)

Read more information about composting by clicking here.

Real Deal Store accepts and sells quality reusable household goods, furniture and building materials. Also, they now collect e-waste at their store. For more information call 613-283-7999 or www.realaction.ca.

Montague Public School
1200 Rosedale Rd S,
Smiths Falls, ON K7A 4S6
Tel.: 613-283-6426
montague.ucdsb.on.ca

Duncan J. Schoular Public School
41 McGill Street
Smiths Falls, ON K7A 3M9
Tel.: 613-283-1367
djschoular.ucdsb.on.ca

Chimo Elementary School
11 Ross St, Smiths Falls, ON K7A 4V6
Tel.: 613-283-1761
chimo.ucdsb.on.ca

St. Francis de Sales Catholic School
4 Ross St, Smiths Falls, ON K7A 4L5
Tel: 613-283-6101
stfrancisdesales.cdsbeo.on.ca

Calvary Christian Academy
9749 ON-15, Smiths Falls, K7A 4S7
Tel: 613-283-5089
calvaryca.com

Smiths Falls and District Collegiate Institute
299 Percy Street,
Smiths Falls, ON K7A 5M2
Tel.: 613-283-0288
smithsfalls.ucdsb.on.ca

St. Luke Catholic High School
4 Ross Street Smiths Falls, ON K7A 4L5
Tel.: 613-283-4477
thestewart.ucdsb.on.ca

Calvary Christian High School
9749 ON-15, Smiths Falls, K7A 4S7
Tel: 613-283-5089
calvaryca.com

Algonquin College - Perth Campus
7 Craig St
Perth, ON K7H 1X7
Tel.: 613-267-2859
algonquincollege.com

Algonquin College - Ottawa Campus
1385 Woodroffe Ave
Nepean, ON K2G 1V8
Tel.: 613-727-4723
algonquincollege.com

T.R. Leger School of Continuing Education
10 Ontario Street
Smiths Falls K7A 4K7
Tel.: 613-283-5418
trleger.ucdsb.on.ca

Head Office
225 Central Ave W,
Brockville, ON K6V 5X1
Toll-free: 1-800-267-7131
ucdsb.on.ca

Western Region Education Centre
2755 Highway 43
Kemptville, ON K0G 1J0
Toll-free: 1-800-267 7945
cdsbeo.on.ca

2445 Boul. St-Laurent
Ottawa, ON K1G 6C3
Bureau Sans frais : 1-888-33CEPEO
cepeo.on.ca

4000, Rue Labelle,
Ottawa, ON K1J 1A1
Bureau Sans frais : 1-888-230-5131
ecolecatholique.ca

DECLARATION OF INTEREST REGISTRY

Where a Member of Council or Local Board declares a direct or indirect pecuniary interest in accordance with the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act or a conflict of interest in accordance with the Code of Conduct for Council and Local Boards, the Municipality is required to maintain a registry. 

The original declaration filed can be viewed at the Municipal Office during regular office hours. 

The Committee of Adjustment consists of three residents of the community and a secretary who is an employee of the Township.  The Committee meets whenever there is an application for consideration. The purpose of the Committee is to evaluate and make decisions on minor variances and permit a change of use or extension of non-conforming use.

The MRCC meets on the fourth Thursday of every month at 7pm.

The Terms of Reference can be found here: MRCC Terms of Reference

The Property Standards Committee is made up of three citizens and a staff member who serves as secretary. The Committee was designed to help enforce the Property Standards by-law, found here: Montague Property Standards By-Law

If you have any property standards concerns, please put them in writing and send them to:

Property Standards Officer
P.O. Box 755
Smiths Falls, ON K7A 4S6

E-mail

The Montague Police Services Board is the independent body that provides direction and accountability to the OPP.  The Board is made up of one member of Council, one local resident appointed by the Province of Ontario and one local resident appointed by Township Council.

If you have any questions or concerns about policing in your area, please send an e-mail and we will follow up as appropriate.

Council operates under a Committee of the Whole Structure whereby Community Services and Corporate Services committee meetings are held the first Wednesday of each month and Economic Development and Public Works committee meetings are held the fourth Wednesday of each month. County Council meets prior to each of the committee meetings at 5p.m. 

The Merrickville-Wolford Public Library Board is made up of 6 members appointed by the Municipal Council: 5 from Merrickville-Wolford (including one Council member) and 1 from Montague Township.

What does the Library Board do?

The Public Libraries Act, a provincial statute, designates library boards as governing boards. As such, library boards perform many functions, including the following tasks:

• determine library services
• advocate on behalf of the library
• overseeing the library’s finances
• seek funds through the Municipal Council’s budget and through other funding opportunities
• appoint and oversee the Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

**** There are two representatives appointed to the Merrickville Public Library Board. *****

Smiths Falls Library Board

There is one citizen representative appointed to the Smiths Falls Library Board. 

Montague Board Member

Sarrahlynn Martin

Livestock Investigators follow provincial mandates by OMAFRA. More information can be found here: OMAFRA

Fenceviewers are required per the line fences act, found here: Ontario Line Fences Act

To inquiry about a Fenceviewing, please contact Allison Vereyken at  or 613-283-7478 ext. 250.

One member of Council is appointed to represent the Township. For more information on the Authority and their activities, please visit their website.