Burn permits and fire pits in Wells, Maine
According to the Wells Fire Department's Outdoor Burning web page (town guidance, not an ordinance), you need a permit for all outdoor burning, applied for online. Attended burning is allowed only on Class 1 and 2 days, from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Beach fires are allowed only on Moody Beach, with a permit, from 5 to 11:30 p.m.
| Permit required | Yes, for all outdoor burning (online application) [1] |
| Allowed hours | Class 1-2 days, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., attended [2] |
| Class 3-5 days | No burning [2] |
| Beach fires | Moody Beach only, by permit, 5-11:30 p.m. [3] |
| Beach fire without permit | $25 civil penalty per offense [5] |
Source note
Most of this comes from the Wells Fire Department's Outdoor Burning web page, which is town guidance rather than an ordinance. The beach-fire penalty comes from the town's Beaches ordinance (Chapter 86, Article II).
Permits
Fire permits are required for all outdoor burning, and you apply online. Permits are no longer available at Public Safety [1]. The town page links to Maine's open-burning rules for what may be burned. Those statewide rules are shown separately on this page.
Fire-danger classes
Permits can be issued before the day's class is known, so it's up to you to confirm the class with the Fire Department before lighting. On Class 1 and 2 days, attended burning is allowed from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. On Class 3, 4 and 5 days, no burning is allowed [2]. Your fire must be attended at all times.
Beach fires
Beach fires are allowed only on Moody Beach, on the Atlantic Ocean side [3]. Permits go only to the property owner, or to someone with the department's Permission Form signed by the owner, and are good only from 5 to 11:30 p.m. [4]. The Beaches ordinance prohibits beach fires without a permit from the Fire Chief, and violations carry a $25 civil penalty per offense [5].
Special events
Large functions, lobster bakes, festivals and town events can get special burning permits with the Town Manager's approval. Call the Fire Department at 207-646-7912.
Fire pits
The town page doesn't separately address backyard fire pits. It requires a permit for "all outdoor burning," so check with the Fire Department.
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Next steps
- Apply for a burn permit online using the link on the Wells Fire Department's Outdoor Burning page.
- On the day you burn, confirm the fire-danger class with the Fire Department (207-646-7912). Burn only on Class 1-2 days, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
- Keep the fire attended at all times.
- For a Moody Beach fire, get a permit as the owner, or get a signed Permission Form at the Corner Station.
Common questions
- Do I need a burn permit in Wells, Maine?
- Yes. According to the Wells Fire Department's Outdoor Burning web page, you need a permit for all outdoor burning, applied for online. Permits are no longer available at Public Safety.
- When can I burn in Wells, Maine?
- Attended burning is allowed only on Class 1 and 2 fire-danger days, from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. On Class 3, 4 and 5 days no burning is allowed. Confirm the day's class with the Fire Department before lighting.
- Can I have a beach fire in Wells, Maine?
- Only on Moody Beach, with a permit, from 5 to 11:30 p.m. A beach fire without a permit carries a $25 civil penalty per offense.
- Do I need a permit for a backyard fire pit in Wells, Maine?
- The town page doesn't separately address fire pits. It requires a permit for all outdoor burning, so check with the Fire Department.
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
- Outdoor Burning (Fire Dept. web page), Issuing Permits, Outdoor Burning - Wells Fire Department, p. 1
Fire permits are required for all outdoor burning.
- Outdoor Burning, Classifications, Outdoor Burning - Wells Fire Department, p. 1
Class 2 Attended burning permitted 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Class 3 No burning is authorized.
- Outdoor Burning, Beach Fires, Outdoor Burning - Wells Fire Department, p. 1
Beach fires are not permitted in the Town of Wells except on Moody Beach.
- Outdoor Burning, Beach Fires, Outdoor Burning - Wells Fire Department, p. 1
These permits shall be issued for the hours between 5 and 11:30 p.m. only.
- Ch. 86, Art. II, Fires, Beaches (Chapter 86), Article II: Fires, p. 1
Any person, persons, firm or corporation who or which violates this article shall, upon conviction, be punished by a civil penalty of $25 for each offense, the money to be paid to the Town of Wells for the use of the Town.