Burn permits and fire pits in Mount Desert, Maine
Mount Desert has no town ordinance on brush burning or backyard fire pits, so Maine's statewide burn permit rules apply (see the state rules on this page). The Mount Desert Fire Department's fire-pit brochure recommends keeping a fire pit at least 30 ft from any combustible structure and lists materials that can never be burned.
| Town burning ordinance | None found; the Fire Prevention ordinance covers only fire department organization [1] |
| Recommended fire pit distance from combustible structures | At least 30 ft (Fire Department guideline) [2] |
| Cleared mineral-soil ring around a fire pit | As wide as the fire pit's diameter (guideline) [3] |
| Prohibited materials | Trash, plastics, treated wood, paper, cardboard, tires and other solid waste (state ban) [4] |
No local burning rules
Mount Desert's Fire Prevention and Emergency Medical Services Ordinance only sets up the fire department and the Fire Chief's powers [1]. It has no burn permit system, brush-burning rules or fire pit standards. We found no other town ordinance on open burning, so the state rules on this page govern brush burning, campfires and permits.
Fire pit guidelines
The Mount Desert Fire Department publishes a brochure on residential fire pits. Its recommendations aren't ordinance requirements:
- Don't put a fire pit within 30 ft of a combustible structure [2].
- Clear leaves, twigs and grass from the soil around the pit for a distance equal to its diameter. For example, a 24-inch pit needs a 24-inch mineral-soil ring [3].
- Keep the area clear of underbrush and unmowed grass for 15 ft in every direction, with no overhanging branches closer than 15 ft.
- Keep water on hand, think about where the smoke will blow, and talk to your neighbors. If your fire is a nuisance, you may be asked to put it out.
The brochure notes the state has no fire pit regulations and recommends the Maine Forest Service fire safety standards for outdoor fireplaces and grills.
What you can't burn
The brochure says burning treated wood, plastics, paper, cardboard, tires, trash and other solid waste is prohibited in Maine [4]. It also says not to burn wood on air quality alert days [5].
See how Mount Desert compares with 8+ other Maine towns on burn permits & backyard fires →
Next steps
- Before burning brush or having a campfire on bare ground, get a burn permit through the Maine Forest Service online system or your local forest fire warden (see the state rules on this page).
- Site a fire pit at least 30 ft from any building, with a cleared ring and no overhanging branches within 15 ft.
- Contact the Mount Desert Fire Department (number on the town website) with questions about a specific fire pit or burn.
Common questions
- Do I need a burn permit in Mount Desert, Maine?
- Mount Desert has no town burn permit ordinance, so Maine's statewide burn permit rules apply. Check the state rules before burning brush.
- Does Mount Desert, Maine have rules for backyard fire pits?
- No town ordinance covers them. The Fire Department's brochure recommends keeping a fire pit at least 30 ft from any combustible structure. Those are guidelines, not ordinance requirements.
- What can't I burn in Mount Desert, Maine?
- Treated wood, plastics, paper, cardboard, tires, trash and other solid waste are prohibited under Maine's state ban. The brochure also says not to burn wood on air quality alert days.
- How big a clearing should a fire pit have in Mount Desert, Maine?
- The Fire Department suggests clearing the soil around the pit for a distance equal to its diameter and keeping the area clear of underbrush for 15 ft. These are recommendations, not requirements.
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
- Fire Prevention and EMS Ordinance Sec. 1.2, Purpose, Fire Prevention and Emergency Medical Services Ordinance, p. 2
The purpose of this Ordinance is to provide administrative authority and structure for fire protection, including emergency medical services (EMS) functions, for the Town of Mount Desert.
- Residential Fire Pits brochure, Guidelines/Location, Residential Fire Pits in the Town of Mount Desert (brochure), p. 2
Do not locate a fire pit within 30 feet of a combustible structure.
- Residential Fire Pits brochure, Guidelines/Location, Residential Fire Pits in the Town of Mount Desert (brochure), p. 2
Remove surface fuels (leaves, twigs, grass) from the soil for a distance equal to the diameter of the fire pit.
- Residential Fire Pits brochure, For Your Health & Safety, Residential Fire Pits in the Town of Mount Desert (brochure), p. 1
Burning of these materials is prohibited in the State of Maine:
- Residential Fire Pits brochure, For Your Health & Safety, Residential Fire Pits in the Town of Mount Desert (brochure), p. 1
Never burn wood during air quality alert days when air pollution is already higher.