Burn permits and fire pits in North Yarmouth, Maine
North Yarmouth doesn't have its own open-burning ordinance, and its Land Use Ordinance doesn't regulate brush burning or backyard fire pits. Maine's statewide burn permit rules apply: get a permit from the Maine Forest Service online system or the town's forest fire warden before burning brush.
What we found
North Yarmouth has no local ordinance on open burning, brush piles, recreational fires or fire pits. The town's Fire Rescue Department ordinance is listed as covering how the department is organized rather than burning rules (we didn't review its text), and the Land Use Ordinance doesn't mention burning except in unrelated contexts. So there are no extra local limits on hours, materials or fire-pit size beyond state law.
What applies instead
Maine's statewide rules (shown below) govern burning in North Yarmouth. In short, burning brush, leaves and other yard debris needs a burn permit, and so does a campfire or fire pit when the ground isn't snow-covered. Burning trash, plastics and treated wood is banned everywhere. North Yarmouth Fire Rescue or the Maine Forest Service online permit system can issue permits, depending on daily fire danger.
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Next steps
- Check the daily fire danger and get a free burn permit online from the Maine Forest Service, or contact North Yarmouth Fire Rescue.
- Burn only clean, untreated wood and yard debris, and keep water and tools on hand.
- Don't burn during a red flag warning or when your permit's conditions aren't met.
Common questions
- Do I need a burn permit in North Yarmouth, Maine?
- The town has no open-burning ordinance of its own, so Maine's statewide burn permit rules apply. Get a permit from the Maine Forest Service online system or the town's forest fire warden before burning brush.
- Can I have a fire pit in North Yarmouth, Maine?
- The Land Use Ordinance doesn't regulate backyard fire pits. State rules apply: a campfire or fire pit needs a burn permit when the ground isn't snow-covered.
- Can I burn trash in North Yarmouth, Maine?
- No. Maine bans burning trash, plastics and treated wood everywhere, and North Yarmouth adds no separate local rules.
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.