Burn permits and fire pits in Kittery, Maine
The Kittery ordinances we reviewed have no local rules for brush burning, backyard fires or fire pits. Kittery follows state rules, so get a burn permit from the Maine Forest Service online system or the local fire warden. The only local fire rule we found bans campfires and portable grills on town launch ramps and docks without the Harbormaster's approval.
| Local open-burning ordinance | None found in our sources [1] |
| Campfires or grills on launch ramps and docks | Not allowed without Harbormaster approval [1] |
| Fire code referenced in Title 16 | Listed among state codes that stay in full effect (a building-permit provision, not a burning rule) [2] |
What we found
None of the Kittery documents we reviewed has a section on burning brush, leaves, campfires or backyard fire pits. We reviewed Title 16 (Land Use and Development Code, 2022 version), Chapter 16.9, the Short-Term Rental and Animal Control chapters, and the Port Authority Rules. Kittery's old town page on open-burning rules is no longer online. The town's Burn Permits page sends residents to the state Maine Forest Service permit system.
The only local rule on open fires is in the Port Authority Rules. No one may build a campfire or use a portable grill on a launch ramp or dock area without the Harbormaster's prior approval [1]. Title 16 also says that the state-adopted NFPA fire codes, including the NFPA 1 Fire Code, stay in full effect [2]. That provision is about building permits, not backyard burning.
Kittery's beach rules (Chapter 12.4, covering fires at Seapoint and Crescent beaches) weren't among our sources.
What applies instead
Open burning in Kittery is governed by state law and the Maine DEP open burning rule. 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 there's no snow on the ground. 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.
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Next steps
- Check the day's fire danger and get a free burn permit online from the Maine Forest Service, or contact the Kittery Fire Department or fire warden.
- Burn only clean wood and brush from your own property. Never burn trash, plastic or treated wood.
- Don't light a campfire or grill on a town launch ramp or dock unless the Harbormaster has approved it in advance.
- Before a beach fire at Seapoint or Crescent Beach, check Kittery's beach rules (Chapter 12.4) with the town.
Common questions
- Do I need a burn permit in Kittery, Maine?
- Kittery'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 there's no snow on the ground.
- Does Kittery, Maine regulate fire pits?
- The ordinances we reviewed have no rules on fire pits or backyard fires. The only local fire rule we found bans campfires and portable grills on town launch ramps and docks without the Harbormaster's approval.
- Where do I get a burn permit in Kittery, Maine?
- Get a free burn permit online from the Maine Forest Service, or contact the Kittery Fire Department or fire warden. Permits depend on the day's fire danger.
- Can I have a beach fire in Kittery, Maine?
- Check the town first. Kittery's beach rules (Chapter 12.4) cover fires at Seapoint and Crescent beaches, but weren't among our sources.
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
- KPA Rules § 5.10 Open Fire / Grilling / Barbecue, Kittery Port Authority Rules and Regulations (Amended March 5, 2026), p. 36
No person shall create a campfire or use any form of portable grill on a launch ramp or dock area unless receiving prior approval from the Kittery Harbormaster.
- § 16.2.8.F(5)(c)(vii) Conformance to standards, Title 16 Land Use and Development Code as adopted January 24, 2022 (recodification), p. 25
vii. National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) firesafety codes and standards, adopted pursuant to 25 M.R.S. § 2452 and § 2465, as follows: 385 a. NFPA 1 - Fire Code.