Home › Massachusetts › Topics › Burn Permits & Backyard Fires
Burn Permits & Backyard Fires in Massachusetts: rules in 22 towns compared
Can I burn brush or have a backyard fire pit? Here's how each town answers it. Click a town for the details and the exact bylaw text.
Last reviewed
This page is for Massachusetts residents who want to burn brush or use a backyard fire pit. Outdoor burning is controlled by state rules (MassDEP, 310 CMR 7.07, and M.G.L. c. 48, §13). Where it's allowed, brush burning is limited to January 15 to May 1, between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., with a local fire department permit, at least 75 feet from any dwelling, and only on days fire officials and air quality allow. You can burn brush, cane, driftwood and residential forestry debris, but never leaves, grass, hay, stumps, tires, construction debris or household trash. Open burning is banned at all times in 22 communities, including Belmont, Boston, Cambridge and Newton. Cooking fires are allowed year-round, but a fire pit used for anything other than cooking falls under the open-burning rules, and towns may further regulate or ban fire pits.
Of the 22 towns we cover for this topic, Belmont bans open burning entirely, along with fire pits, chimineas and outdoor fireplaces. The other 21 follow the state season with a fire department permit, and most, including Carlisle, Concord, Lexington, Needham, Wayland and Weston, make you call or check in each day you burn. Fees vary, from free in Wayland and Winchester to $12.50 in Duxbury, and Andover's and Carlisle's seasons end April 30. Scituate bans burning in Minot, Humarock and east of Hatherly Road, and Wellesley requires a $35 permit for a backyard fire pit. Pick your town below for the details and the bylaw text.
Town-by-town comparison
| Town | Verdict | Short answer |
|---|---|---|
| Wellesley | Allowed with a permit | Backyard fire pits, chimineas and outdoor fireplaces at one- and two-family homes need a $35 permit from the Wellesley Fire Department, and the fire must be at least 20 ft from buildings, property lines and trees. The town sources we reviewed don't set local brush-burning rules; seasonal brush burning follows state rules and needs a Fire Department permit. |
| Weston | Allowed with a permit | Brush burning is allowed in Weston only during the open burn season, January 15 to May 1, with a seasonal permit from the Fire Department applied for online each year. On each day you want to burn, you must call 781-786-6101 for permission. The town sources we reviewed don't specifically regulate backyard fire pits. |
| Lexington | Allowed with a permit | Brush burning is allowed in Lexington only from January 15 to May 1, with a Fire Department permit obtained in advance, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., and at least 75 feet from any building or fence. You must call 781-698-4700 (option 8) after 9 a.m. on the day you burn to confirm burning is allowed. |
| Concord | Allowed with a permit | 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. |
| Needham | Allowed with a permit | Brush burning is allowed only during the January 15 to May 1 season, with a $10 permit from the Needham Fire Department at 88 Chestnut Street, between 10am and 4pm. Before burning each day you must call the Fire Department (781-444-0142) for permission. The town materials we reviewed don't address backyard fire pits. |
| Dover | Allowed with a permit | Yes, for brush, during burning season only: January 15 to May 1, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., with an online Fire Department permit for each day you burn. The fire must be at least 75 feet from all buildings with a hose or water source nearby. Dover's page doesn't address backyard fire pits. |
| Sudbury | Allowed with a permit | Only with a Sudbury Fire Department permit. The General Bylaws ban burning "material of any kind" on public or private property without a Fire Department permit, and brush burning is allowed only January 15 through May 1, with daily registration using your permit number. The bylaw doesn't separately address fire pits, so ask the Fire Department before using one. |
| Wayland | Allowed with a permit | Brush burning is allowed only during open burning season, January 15 to May 1, with a free permit from the Wayland Fire Department. You also have to activate the permit by phone each day you burn, and the Fire Chief can deny burning on any day because of weather. |
| Lincoln | Allowed with a permit | Brush burning in Lincoln is allowed only during the state burning season, January 15 to May 1, and you need a burn permit on file with the Lincoln Fire Department before you light anything. Lincoln's bylaws have no local rules on backyard fire pits, so the state rules shown separately apply. |
| Belmont | Not allowed | No. Belmont is one of 22 Massachusetts communities where open burning isn't allowed at all, so you can't burn brush, and outdoor fire pits, chimineas and outdoor fireplaces are also prohibited. Propane, charcoal and electric grills used for cooking are allowed. |
| Winchester | Allowed with a permit | Brush burning is allowed only from January 15 to May 1, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with a free permit you request by phone from the Winchester Fire Department, and at least 75 ft from any dwelling. Portable fire pits, chimineas and outdoor fireplaces are allowed year-round without a permit under the Fire Department's fire-pit rules if the fire is 3 ft across or less and 25 ft from structures, though another department page ties non-cooking fire pits to the burn season, so confirm first. |
| Andover | Allowed with a permit | Yes, but only brush and similar yard debris, only between January 15 and April 30, and only with an Andover Fire Department permit plus permission on the day you burn. Burning is allowed from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at least 75 feet from any dwelling. Outdoor cooking fires are allowed year-round. |
| Hingham | Allowed with a permit | You can burn brush in Hingham only with a Fire Department burn permit, only from January 15 to May 1 between 10 AM and 4 PM, and only after notifying the department each day you burn. Fires must be at least 75 feet from all dwellings; the burning limits don't apply to outdoor cooking. |
| Cohasset | Allowed with a permit | To burn brush in Cohasset you need a Residential Burn Permit from the Fire Department, issued online with an annual fee. Burning is allowed only from January 15 to May 1, and you must request each burn online on the day itself, between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. The town's online permit system doesn't address backyard fire pits. |
| Duxbury | Allowed with a permit | You can burn brush in Duxbury only from January 15 to May 1, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., with a $12.50 Fire Department permit bought online. Check each day that burning is allowed, and burn at least 75 feet from all buildings. The town's materials don't address backyard fire pits. |
| Nantucket | Allowed with a permit | Brush burning is allowed only from January 15 to May 1 with a Fire Department permit, under MassDEP rules. Fire pits and small cooking fires are allowed without a permit if they're used for cooking, kept small, contained and tended by an adult; bonfires need a permit the Fire Department almost never issues. |
| Chatham | Allowed with a permit | Brush burning is allowed in Chatham only with a $5 written Fire Department permit, during the January 15 to May 1 season, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., and at least 75 feet from all buildings. You must call each day to see if burning is allowed. We found no Chatham-specific rule on fire pits; state rules apply. |
| Falmouth | Allowed with a permit | Brush burning is allowed only from January 15 through May 1, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., with a burn permit from Falmouth Fire Rescue. On each burn day you must call the open burning line (508-495-2506) between 9:30 a.m. and noon. Only tree trimmings, brush and storm-debris branches may be burned, at least 75 feet from any structure. |
| Scituate | Allowed with a permit | Brush burning needs a Scituate Fire Department permit and is allowed only from January 15 to May 1, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at least 75 feet from any structure. It is banned entirely in Minot, Humarock and anywhere east of Hatherly Road. Outdoor cooking fires in a non-flammable enclosure, permanent barbecue or outdoor fireplace need no permit, but must be at least 25 feet from structures and can't be lit on red flag days or when winds exceed 15 mph. |
| Swampscott | Allowed with a permit | Brush burning in Swampscott needs a seasonal Open Burning permit from the Fire Department ($5 per season). Burning is allowed only from January 15 to May 1, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., at least 75 feet from all buildings, and only on days the fire officials allow. Leaves, grass, stumps and construction debris can never be burned. |
| Hamilton | Not specifically regulated | Hamilton's bylaws we reviewed don't have their own open-burning or fire pit rules. Brush burning follows the state rules and needs a burn permit from the Hamilton Fire Department, which the town issues through its online burning permit site. |
| Carlisle | Allowed with a permit | Yes, with a Carlisle Fire Department permit in the landowner's name. You can burn brush only from January 15 to April 30, and you must call 978-369-2242 after 8:30 a.m. each day to activate the permit. Fires must be at least 75 feet from any structure or street, no larger than 10 by 10 feet, and out by 4 p.m. |
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.
Common questions about burn permits & fire pits in Massachusetts
- Do I need a burn permit in Massachusetts?
- Yes. Brush burning is allowed only with a permit from your local fire department, obtained in advance, and fire officials decide each day whether conditions allow burning. Many towns also require you to call or activate your permit on each day you burn. In 22 communities, open burning isn't allowed at all.
- When is burning season in Massachusetts?
- January 15 to May 1, between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., in communities where open burning is allowed. Your town can cancel burning on any day because of weather or air quality, and a few towns set slightly different local dates.
- Can you burn leaves in Massachusetts?
- No. State rules never allow burning leaves, grass, hay, stumps, tires, construction debris or household trash. Only brush, cane, driftwood, residential forestry debris and some agricultural materials can be burned, during the season and with a permit.
- Do you need a permit for a fire pit in Massachusetts?
- It depends on your town and how you use it. Cooking fires are allowed year-round and aren't covered by open-burning limits, but a fire pit used for anything other than cooking falls under the open-burning rules. Towns may further regulate or ban fire pits: some require a permit and some ban them outright.
- Where is open burning banned in Massachusetts?
- Open burning is banned at all times in 22 communities, including Arlington, Belmont, Boston, Cambridge, Chelsea, Chicopee, Everett, Fall River, Holyoke, Lawrence, Lowell, Malden, Medford, New Bedford, Newton, Somerville, Springfield, Waltham, Watertown, West Springfield and Worcester. Some towns also ban it in certain neighborhoods.
Other topics
ADU rules · Chicken laws · Short-term rentals · Fence rules · Shed permits · Home businesses · Pool rules · Wetlands rules · Docks & piers