Burn permits and fire pits in Kennebunk, Maine
Burning brush, wood or a fire pit in Kennebunk requires a burn permit from the Kennebunk Fire Department or the Maine Forest Service. Permits are issued only on Class 1 or 2 fire-danger days. Residential burning on weekdays is allowed only from 5 PM to 9 AM. Gas or charcoal grills for cooking don't need a permit, and burning trash is illegal.
| Permit required | Yes, from Kennebunk Fire Department or Maine Forest Service [1] |
| Grills | Gas or charcoal grill for cooking: no local permit [1] |
| Fire-danger days | Permits only on Class 1 or 2 days [3] |
| Weekday hours (residential) | 5 PM to 9 AM [4] |
| Weekend hours | Daytime and evenings [4] |
| Fire pits / cooking or warming fires | 1-year permit for an area the Fire Warden has approved and inspected [5] |
| Prohibited | Manufactured products and household rubbish [2] |
| Fines | $25 first offense / $50 second / $100 third [6] |
Permit required
Under Ordinance 3-9, any outdoor burning of wood products, vegetation debris or fuel requires a burning permit from either the Kennebunk Fire Department or the Maine Forest Service. Using a gas or charcoal grill for cooking doesn't require a local permit [1]. You can get a permit from the Town Forest Fire Warden at Kennebunk Central Fire Station, or through the Maine Forest Service. Local permits are at the Warden's discretion, based on moisture, wind, time of day and available fire crews. They are issued only on days the Maine Forest Service rates Class 1 or 2 [3].
When you can burn
- Weekdays (residential): 5 PM to 9 AM only [4].
- Weekends: during the day and in the evening.
- The Warden can revoke permits and stop all burning when fire danger is high, or when smoke bothers neighbors or blocks visibility on roads.
Fire pits and backyard fires
The Warden can grant a one-year permit for burning wood to cook or keep warm, in an area the Warden has approved and inspected [5]. That is the path for a permanent backyard fire pit.
What you can't burn
Burning debris like manufactured products or household rubbish/waste is unlawful. Only wood products, vegetation debris and fuel may be burned [2]. Burning must also follow state law and DEP rules. The town offers curbside pickup and prohibits incinerators.
Penalties
Fines are set by the Select Board's fee schedule: $25 for a first offense, $50 for a second and $100 for a third [6]. (In the quoted fee-schedule row, "3-9.7 3-9.8" are the ordinance sections; the three amounts sit under the schedule's 1st, 2nd and 3rd offense columns.) Each day of a violation counts as a separate offense.
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Next steps
- Check the day's fire-danger class. Local permits are only issued on Class 1 or 2 days.
- Get a burn permit from the Maine Forest Service online or from the Town Forest Fire Warden at Kennebunk Central Fire Station.
- For a backyard fire pit, ask the Fire Warden to inspect and approve the spot for a one-year cooking or warming fire permit.
- On weekdays, burn only between 5 PM and 9 AM, and burn only clean wood and brush.
Common questions
- Do I need a burn permit in Kennebunk, Maine?
- Yes. Burning brush, wood or a fire pit requires a burn permit from the Kennebunk Fire Department or the Maine Forest Service. Gas or charcoal grills for cooking don't need a local permit.
- When can I burn in Kennebunk, Maine?
- Permits are issued only on Class 1 or 2 fire-danger days. Residential burning on weekdays is allowed only from 5 PM to 9 AM, and on weekends during the day and evening.
- Can I have a fire pit in Kennebunk, Maine?
- Yes, with a permit. The Fire Warden can grant a one-year permit for burning wood to cook or keep warm, in an area the Warden has approved and inspected.
- What are the fines for illegal burning in Kennebunk, Maine?
- $25 for a first offense, $50 for a second and $100 for a third. Each day of a violation counts as a separate offense. Burning trash or household rubbish is unlawful.
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
- Ordinance 3-9 Out-of-Door Burning, 9.1, Kennebunk Town Ordinances (non-zoning, compiled), p. 62
9.1 As provided for herein, out-of-door burning of wood products, vegetation debris and fuel in the Town of Kennebunk shall require a burning permit issued by either the Kennebunk Fire Department or the Maine Forest Service; provided, however that the recreational use of an outdoor gas or charcoal grill for food preparation shall not require a local burning permit.
- Ordinance 3-9, 9.2, Kennebunk Town Ordinances (non-zoning, compiled), p. 62
9.2 It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to burn debris, such as manufactured products or household rubbish/waste. This Ordinance only allows for the burning of wood products, vegetation debris, and fuel, as set forth herein.
- Ordinance 3-9, 9.2, Kennebunk Town Ordinances (non-zoning, compiled), p. 62
Burning permits shall only be issued for days that the Maine Forest Service has designated as Class 1 or 2 in its Forest Fire Danger Report.
- Ordinance 3-9, 9.3 Allowable Burning Times, Kennebunk Town Ordinances (non-zoning, compiled), p. 62
(1) Monday through Friday between the hours of 5 PM and 9 AM for residential uses. (2) Monday through Friday during daylight hours, or another time period as specified by the Town Forest Fire Warden or his designee, for construction uses. (3) Weekends during the day and evenings for both residential and construction uses.
- Ordinance 3-9, 9.5, Kennebunk Town Ordinances (non-zoning, compiled), p. 62
9.5 Permits for burning wood products for the purpose of cooking or warming fires in an area approved and inspected by the Town Forest Fire Warden, may be granted for a period of one year.
- Fee Schedule, 3-9 Out-of-Door Burning, Kennebunk Town Ordinances (non-zoning, compiled), p. 242
3-9 Out-of-Door Burning 3-9.7 3-9.8 Fines $25.00 $50.00 $100.00