Burn permits and fire pits in Harpswell, Maine
The Harpswell ordinances we reviewed have no local rules on brush burning, backyard fires or fire pits. Burning in Harpswell follows state rules, so get a burn permit from the Maine Forest Service online system or the local fire warden before burning brush or having a campfire on bare ground.
What we found
None of the Harpswell documents we reviewed has a section on burning brush or leaves, campfires, bonfires or backyard fire pits. We reviewed the Basic Land Use Ordinance, the Definitions Addendum, the Shoreland Zoning Ordinance, the Harbor & Waterfront Ordinance and the Animal Control Ordinance. The only uses of "burn" are in the Harbor & Waterfront Ordinance, which requires mooring permit numbers to be painted or burned onto mooring buoys. That has nothing to do with open fires.
What applies instead
With no local ordinance, open burning in Harpswell is governed by state law and the Maine DEP open burning rule. In general, you need a permit from the Maine Forest Service or your town forest fire warden to burn brush or have a campfire when the ground isn't snow-covered. Permits depend on the day's fire danger. Burning trash, plastics, treated wood and similar material is banned statewide. The state rules are summarized separately on this page.
If you clear vegetation to make room for a burn pile or fire pit near the water, the shoreland vegetation rules still apply (see the Shoreland page).
See how Harpswell compares with 8+ other Maine towns on burn permits & backyard fires →
Next steps
- Check the day's fire danger and get a free burn permit online from the Maine Forest Service, or contact Harpswell's fire warden.
- Burn only clean wood and brush from your own property. Never burn trash, plastic or treated wood.
- Ask the Harpswell Town Office whether the fire department has any local burn-day or fire pit guidance.
Common questions
- Do I need a burn permit in Harpswell, Maine?
- Harpswell's ordinances have no local burning rules, so state rules apply. In general you need a permit from the Maine Forest Service or the town forest fire warden to burn brush or have a campfire when the ground isn't snow-covered.
- Does Harpswell, Maine regulate fire pits?
- The ordinances we reviewed have no rules on fire pits, backyard fires, bonfires or brush burning. Ask the Harpswell Town Office whether the fire department has any local burn-day or fire pit guidance.
- How do I get a burn permit in Harpswell, Maine?
- Get a free burn permit online from the Maine Forest Service, or contact Harpswell's fire warden. Permits depend on the day's fire danger.
- What can't I burn in Harpswell, Maine?
- Burning trash, plastics, treated wood and similar material is banned statewide. Burn only clean wood and brush.
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.