Burn permits and fire pits in Concord, Massachusetts
Brush burning is allowed only January 15 to May 1, with a Concord Fire Department burn permit and a call to the department between 9 a.m. and noon on the day you burn. Burning is limited to 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Any outdoor fire on private property needs the owner's written consent and must follow state fire laws.
| Brush burning season | January 15 to May 1 [3] |
| Permit | Burn permit from the Concord Fire Department (online, from early January) [3] |
| Daily permission | Call the Fire Department between 9 a.m. and noon on the day you burn [4] |
| Burning hours | 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; fire fully out by 4 p.m. [5] |
| Any outdoor fire | Needs the property owner's written consent and must follow state fire laws [1] |
| Public land | Written permit from the Fire Department and Natural Resources [2] |
Brush burning
According to the Concord Fire Department, open burning is "strictly controlled according to state law." The season runs January 15 to May 1, and burn permits are available on the Fire Department's website starting the first week of January [3]. A permit alone isn't enough. On each day you want to burn, you must call the Fire Department between 9 a.m. and noon for permission. Permission is given seven days a week, but only when air and wind conditions allow [4]. Burning is allowed only between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., and everything must be fully out by 4 p.m. [5].
Fire pits and other outdoor fires
Concord's Outdoor Fires and Camping Bylaw bans any outdoor fire on private property without the written consent of the owner or legal occupant and compliance with state fire laws [1]. On your own property, you are the owner, so the bylaw mainly requires that you follow state fire rules. Tenants and guests need the owner's written OK. Fires in conservation areas, parks, playgrounds or other public land need a written permit approved by both the Fire Department and the Natural Resources department [2].
The local sources don't separately regulate backyard fire pits, chimineas or cooking fires. They also don't list banned materials. State rules control both: recreational fires that aren't for cooking are treated as open burning, and leaves, grass, stumps and trash can never be burned.
Penalties
Violating the bylaw can bring a fine under the town's non-criminal disposition rules [6].
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Next steps
- Apply for a burn permit on the Concord Fire Department's online system starting in early January (season: Jan. 15–May 1).
- On the day you burn, call the Concord Fire Department between 9 a.m. and noon for permission (the number is on the town website's open burning page).
- Burn only brush between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., keep it attended, and have it fully out by 4 p.m.
- For a backyard fire pit, ask the Fire Department whether your use counts as a cooking fire or open burning.
Common questions
- Do I need a burn permit in Concord, Massachusetts?
- Yes. You need a burn permit from the Concord Fire Department, available online from early January. You must also call the department between 9 a.m. and noon on the day you burn.
- When can I burn brush in Concord, Massachusetts?
- From January 15 to May 1, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., with the fire fully out by 4 p.m. Permission is given only when air and wind conditions allow.
- Can I have a fire pit in Concord, Massachusetts?
- The local sources don't separately regulate backyard fire pits. Any outdoor fire on private property needs the owner's written consent and must follow state fire laws. Ask the Fire Department whether your use counts as cooking or open burning.
- Can I burn leaves in Concord, Massachusetts?
- The local sources don't list banned materials, but state rules control this and leaves, grass, stumps and trash can never be burned.
Massachusetts open burning and fire pit rules
State regulations (MassDEP, 310 CMR 7.07) and M.G.L. c. 48, §13 control outdoor burning.
Open burning of brush (where allowed):
- Only January 15 to May 1, between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
- You need a permit from your local fire department in advance. Fire officials decide each day whether conditions allow burning and can cancel permits.
- Burn at least 75 feet from any dwelling, and only when air quality allows (MassDEP hotline 800-882-1497).
- Allowed: brush, cane, driftwood and residential forestry debris, plus some agricultural materials.
- Not allowed: leaves, grass, hay, stumps, tires, construction debris or household trash.
- Banned at all times in 22 communities, including Belmont, Brookline and Newton. The others are Arlington, Boston, Cambridge, Chelsea, Chicopee, Everett, Fall River, Holyoke, Lawrence, Lowell, Malden, Medford, New Bedford, Somerville, Springfield, Waltham, Watertown, West Springfield and Worcester.
Fire pits and outdoor cooking: cooking fires are allowed year-round everywhere and aren't covered by open-burning limits. They must be a reasonable size, kept away from combustibles, in a non-flammable enclosure, and tended by someone 18 or older. A fire pit used for anything other than cooking falls under the open-burning rules. Towns may further regulate or ban fire pits and chimineas.
Burning illegally, or letting a fire get out of control, can make you liable for firefighting costs, fines or jail time.
What the bylaw says
- Outdoor Fires and Camping Bylaw, ¶1, Outdoor Fires and Camping Bylaw, p. 1
No person shall build an outdoor fire on any private property without the written consent of the owner or legal occupant thereof and compliance with the State fire laws, nor within the limits of any conservation area, playground, park or other public property without first obtaining the written consent of the proper authorities.
- Outdoor Fires and Camping Bylaw, ¶1, Outdoor Fires and Camping Bylaw, p. 1
Consent of the proper authorities shall mean a written permit approved by the Concord Fire Department and by the Town Department of Natural Resources or other governmental body having specific jurisdiction over the area involved.
- Fire Department FAQ: Is brush burning allowed?, Fire Department FAQ - Is brush burning allowed in Concord?, p. 1
Open burning is strictly controlled according to state law. Open burning season starts on January 15 and ends on May 1. Burn permits are available beginning the first week in January on the Fire Departments website.
- Fire Department FAQ: Is brush burning allowed?, Fire Department FAQ - Is brush burning allowed in Concord?, p. 1
On the day when you wish to burn, you must call the Concord Fire Department between 9 a.m. and noon to obtain permission to burn for the day. Permits are issued 7 days a week, when atmospheric and wind conditions allow.
- Fire Department FAQ: Is brush burning allowed?, Fire Department FAQ - Is brush burning allowed in Concord?, p. 1
Burning is allowed only between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. All material must be completely extinguished by 4 p.m.
- Outdoor Fires and Camping Bylaw, ¶3, Outdoor Fires and Camping Bylaw, p. 1
Any person violating the provisions of this bylaw shall be subject to a fine for each offense as specified in Appendix A of the Regulations for the Enforcement of Town Bylaws under M.G.L. Chapter 40, §21D and the Bylaw for Non-Criminal Disposition of Violations adopted under Article 47 of the 1984 Town Meeting, as amended.