Burn permits and fire pits in Rockport, Massachusetts
Brush burning in Rockport needs a $10 burn permit from the Forest Fire office, and only during burn season, January 15 to May 1. Permits are sold Sunday mornings 8:00-10:00 am at 2 DPW Way, and on the day you burn you must call the Rockport Police Department at 9:30 am to confirm burning is allowed. The town's sources don't address backyard fire pits; state rules apply.
| Burn season | January 15 to May 1 [1] |
| Where to get a permit | Forest Fire office, next to the DPW facility, 2 DPW Way [1] |
| When permits are issued | Sunday mornings, 8:00-10:00 am [1] |
| Permit fee | $10, cash or check to Town of Rockport [2] |
| Day-of check | Call Rockport Police (978-546-1212) at 9:30 am [3] |
| Fire pits / recreational fires | Not addressed locally (state rules apply) [1] |
Burn permits
Rockport's Forest Fire page sets the burning permit season from January 15 to May 1. Permits are issued on Sunday mornings between 8:00 and 10:00 am at the Forest Fire office, next to the DPW facility at 2 DPW Way [1]. Each permit costs $10, paid by cash or check to the Town of Rockport [2].
On the day you burn
A permit doesn't guarantee you can burn on a given day. You must call the Rockport Police Department (978-546-1212) at 9:30 am on the day you plan to burn to confirm that burning is still allowed given current weather conditions [3].
What the town doesn't cover
The town's general bylaws contain no local open-burning bylaw; they mention open burning only as a state-law permit (M.G.L. c. 48, §13) that is exempt from the bylaw letting the town deny licenses for unpaid taxes [4]. The town's pages don't list what may be burned, required distances from buildings, burn hours, or rules for backyard fire pits, chimineas or recreational fires. The state open-burning rules shown below (allowed materials, hours, 75-foot distance from dwellings, and the cooking-fire exception) fill those gaps. The Forest Fire Warden is Michael Frontierro (978-265-3339).
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Next steps
- Between January 15 and May 1, go to the Forest Fire office at 2 DPW Way on a Sunday morning (8:00-10:00 am) with $10 cash or check.
- On the day you plan to burn, call the Rockport Police Department at 978-546-1212 at 9:30 am to confirm burning is allowed.
- Burn only brush and other materials allowed under state rules, and keep the fire attended.
- For questions about fire pits or recreational fires, contact the Forest Fire Warden (978-265-3339) or the Fire Department.
Common questions
- Do I need a burn permit in Rockport, Massachusetts?
- Yes. Brush burning needs a $10 burn permit from the Forest Fire office, and only during burn season, January 15 to May 1. Permits are sold Sunday mornings 8:00-10:00 am at 2 DPW Way, payable by cash or check to the Town of Rockport.
- When is burn season in Rockport, MA?
- January 15 to May 1. Even with a permit, you must call the Rockport Police Department (978-546-1212) at 9:30 am on the day you plan to burn to confirm burning is still allowed given the weather.
- Where do I get a burn permit in Rockport, Massachusetts?
- At the Forest Fire office next to the DPW facility, 2 DPW Way, on Sunday mornings between 8:00 and 10:00 am. Each permit costs $10.
- Are fire pits allowed in Rockport, MA?
- Rockport's sources don't address backyard fire pits, chimineas or recreational fires; the state open-burning rules, including the cooking-fire exception, apply. For questions, contact the Forest Fire Warden (978-265-3339) or the Fire Department.
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
- Fire Department, Forest Fire page, Fire Department - Forest Fire page (burning permit season)
Burning Permit season starts on January 15th and runs until May 1st. Burn Permits can be obtained on Sunday mornings between 8:00 - 10:00 am at the Forest Fire office; located next to the DPW Facility at 2 DPW Way.
- Fire Department, Forest Fire page, Fire Department - Forest Fire page (burning permit season)
The permits are $10 each, payable by cash or check to Town of Rockport.
- Fire Department, Forest Fire page, Fire Department - Forest Fire page (burning permit season)
The day that you plan to burn, you must call the Rockport Police Department (978-546-1212) at 9:30am to be sure that burning is still permissible, based on current weather conditions.
- Chapter 7, Section 14.e Exceptions (license denial for unpaid taxes), Town of Rockport Code of By-laws (general bylaws, 'Updated 12/16/2025', amended through FTM September 8, 2025), p. 37
Open burning Chapter 48, § 13