Burn permits and fire pits in Topsham, Maine
According to Topsham Fire & Rescue's burn-permit web page (not an ordinance), you need a free permit for any outside burning in Topsham, either online or in person at the fire station. You can burn only brush, leaves and clean wood, and there's no burning on Class 3, 4 or 5 fire-danger days or during a burn ban.
| Permit required | Yes, before any outside burning [1] |
| Permit cost | No fee (online or in person) [2] |
| In-person hours | Fire & Rescue, 7 days a week, 9 AM - 4 PM (subject to staff) [2] |
| No burning | Class 3, 4 and 5 days, or during a burning ban [3] |
| Permit valid | Date of issue only [4] |
| Allowed materials | Brush, leaves and clean wood [5] |
Source note
This is based on Topsham Fire & Rescue's Residential Burn Permits web page, not an ordinance. We found no separate local open-burning ordinance among our sources.
Getting a permit
A burning permit is required before any outside burning in Topsham [1]. Permits are free, either online through Topsham Fire & Rescue or in person at the station, 7 days a week from 9 AM to 4 PM when staff are available [2]. Keep a copy of the permit with you while burning. A digital copy is fine. The Fire Chief/Warden issues permits at their discretion. There is no burning on Class 3, 4 or 5 fire-danger days or when conditions require a burn ban [3]. A permit is good only on the day it's issued [4].
What you can burn
Only brush, leaves and clean wood may be burned [5]. The page's list of banned materials includes flammable liquids, construction and demolition debris, paper and cardboard, wood boxes, manufactured wood, tires, asphalt shingles, wire insulation, trash, human or animal waste, and animal remains [6].
Conditions
Keep piles reasonably small and attended at all times. The fire department investigates any complaints about a permitted fire and may put it out. Violations can lead to revoked permits or court action.
Fire pits
The page doesn't separately address recreational fires or backyard fire pits. Its rule covers "any outside burning," so ask Fire & Rescue whether your fire pit needs a permit. State permit exemptions are shown separately on this page.
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Next steps
- Check the day's fire danger class; don't plan to burn on a Class 3-5 day.
- Get a free permit online through Topsham Fire & Rescue, or in person at the station (9 AM - 4 PM).
- Keep a paper or digital copy of the permit with you, and keep the fire small and attended.
- For questions about fire pits, call Topsham Fire & Rescue.
Common questions
- Do I need a burn permit in Topsham, Maine?
- Yes. According to Topsham Fire & Rescue's web page, you need a free permit for any outside burning, either online or in person at the fire station. A permit is good only on the day it's issued.
- What can I burn in Topsham, Maine?
- Only brush, leaves and clean wood. Banned materials include construction and demolition debris, paper and cardboard, manufactured wood, tires, asphalt shingles and trash.
- When is burning not allowed in Topsham, Maine?
- On Class 3, 4 and 5 fire-danger days or during a burn ban. The Fire Chief/Warden issues permits at their discretion.
- Do I need a permit for a fire pit in Topsham, Maine?
- The page doesn't separately address backyard fire pits. Its rule covers any outside burning, so ask Fire & Rescue whether your fire pit needs a permit.
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
- Residential Burn Permits (Fire & Rescue web page), Residential Burn Permits (Topsham Fire & Rescue page), p. 1
A burning permit must be obtained prior to any outside burning within the Town of Topsham.
- Residential Burn Permits (Fire & Rescue web page), Residential Burn Permits (Topsham Fire & Rescue page), p. 1
2. In Person: (NO FEE) at the Topsham Fire & Rescue Department 7 days a week 9 AM - 4 PM (Subject to staff availability)
- Residential Burn Permits (Fire & Rescue web page), Residential Burn Permits (Topsham Fire & Rescue page), p. 1
There will be no burning within the Town of Topsham on class 3, 4 & 5 days or when conditions necessitate a burning ban.
- Residential Burn Permits (Fire & Rescue web page), Residential Burn Permits (Topsham Fire & Rescue page), p. 1
Burning Permits are only considered valid during the date of issue.
- Residential Burn Permits (Fire & Rescue web page), Residential Burn Permits (Topsham Fire & Rescue page), p. 1
By law, the only things that can be burned are brush, leaves and clean wood.
- Residential Burn Permits, Burning Permit Conditions, Residential Burn Permits (Topsham Fire & Rescue page), p. 1
Construction/demolition debris (i.e. plastics, rubber, styrofoam, metals, chemicals)