Burn permits and fire pits in Bar Harbor, Maine
Yes, with a permit and a call to the fire department each time. Bar Harbor requires a permit for brush burning and for campfires, including fires in a metal fire pit, and you must call the fire station (207-288-5554) before lighting. Campfire permits are yearly and free at the station.
| Permit for outdoor burning | Written permit signed by the Fire Chief [1] |
| Brush burning | Permit plus a daily go-ahead from the fire department [2] |
| Campfires / fire pits | Yearly permit plus notifying the fire department [3] |
| Fire station phone | 207-288-5554 [4] |
The ordinance
Bar Harbor's Fire Prevention ordinance (Chapter 85) makes it unlawful to burn trash, lumber, brush, leaves, straw or any other combustible material outdoors without a written permit signed by the Fire Chief [1]. The Town Council can also declare a fire emergency and ban building fires in woods and fields.
Brush burning
You need two things: a permit and a daily go-ahead from the fire department [2]. The Fire Chief decides day by day whether burning is allowed, based on the Maine Forest Service wildfire danger report and local weather. Free 24-hour permits are available online through the state, and longer-term free permits are available in person at the fire station. Either way, you must call the station before burning [4]. If the state website shows "Administrative ban issued by the Town Fire Warden," burning is prohibited that day.
Campfires and fire pits
A campfire is a small fire contained in a ring or vessel, such as a metal fire pit. You need a yearly permit and must notify the fire department before lighting [3]. Campfire permits aren't available online; get them free at the fire station.
What to burn
The town ordinance lists trash among materials that need a permit, but state rules ban burning trash and other solid waste everywhere; only clean wood waste may be burned. See the state section on this page.
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Next steps
- For brush, get a free 24-hour permit online from the Maine Forest Service, or a longer-term permit at the Bar Harbor fire station.
- For a backyard fire pit or campfire, pick up a free yearly campfire permit at the fire station.
- Call the fire station (207-288-5554) before every burn to get the go-ahead.
- Burn only clean, untreated wood and brush.
Common questions
- Do I need a burn permit in Bar Harbor, Maine?
- Yes. Bar Harbor requires a written permit for brush burning and for campfires, and you must call the fire station (207-288-5554) before lighting. For brush, you also need a daily go-ahead from the fire department.
- Do I need a permit for a fire pit in Bar Harbor, Maine?
- Yes. Campfires, including fires in a metal fire pit, need a yearly permit, and you must notify the fire department before lighting. Campfire permits aren't available online; they're free at the fire station.
- Can I burn brush in Bar Harbor, Maine?
- Yes, with a permit and a daily go-ahead. Free 24-hour permits are available online from the state, and longer-term free permits at the fire station. If the state website shows an administrative ban by the Town Fire Warden, burning is prohibited that day.
- Can I burn trash in Bar Harbor, Maine?
- No. The town ordinance lists trash among materials that need a permit, but state rules ban burning trash and other solid waste everywhere. Only clean wood waste may be burned.
Maine state burn permit rules
Maine law (12 M.R.S. §9324–9325) and the DEP open burning rule apply in every town. Towns can be stricter, and some ban brush burning entirely.
You need a burn permit from your town forest fire warden or the Maine Forest Service for:
- Burning leaves, brush, deadwood and tree cuttings from normal upkeep of your own property.
- A recreational campfire when the ground isn't covered by snow.
- Any recreational fire larger than 3 ft across and 3 ft high (Forest Service guidance since Oct. 25, 2023).
No permit needed for:
- A campfire on snow-covered ground or a frozen pond, up to 3 ft wide and 3 ft high.
- Residential outdoor grills and fireplaces used for things like cooking, up to 3 ft by 3 ft.
Getting a permit: Online permits from the Maine Forest Service have been free since Oct. 2021, and you can request them 9am to midnight. Your town warden can also write you a permit for free. Check the daily fire danger report, because permits depend on conditions.
Banned everywhere: Burning trash, plastic, rubber, Styrofoam, metal, food waste, chemicals, treated wood or other solid waste. Only clean wood waste and the wood part of construction debris may be burned. No open burning at all, campfires included, in an area under a red flag warning.
You must burn at a suitable time and with care. You can be sued if your fire damages someone else's property.
What the ordinance says
- Ch. 85, Fire Prevention, Burning permit required, Fire Prevention (Chapter 85) - eCode360
It shall be unlawful for any person or persons to burn or cause to be burned trash, lumber, brush, leaves, straw, or any other combustible materials out of doors within the limits of the Town of Bar Harbor without having a written permit duly signed by the Fire Chief granting them this privilege.
- Fire Department - Burn Permits page, Brush Burning, Fire Department - Burn Permits (town page)
Two things are required to burn brush in Bar Harbor: 1) a permit and 2) a daily go-ahead from the fire department.
- Fire Department - Burn Permits page, Campfires, Fire Department - Burn Permits (town page)
Two things are required prior to lighting a campfire in Bar Harbor: 1) a yearly permit and 2) a notification to the fire department.
- Fire Department - Burn Permits page, Brush Burning, Fire Department - Burn Permits (town page)
Regardless, those looking to burn must call the station (207-288-5554) before doing so.