Burn permits and fire pits in Winchester, Massachusetts
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.
| Burn season | January 15 - May 1 [1] |
| Hours | 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. on authorized days [2] |
| Permit | Free, by phone from the Fire Department (781-729-1802) [3] |
| Distance from dwellings (brush burning) | 75 ft [4] |
| Not allowed to burn | Leaves, grass, hay, stumps, tires, construction debris, household trash [5] |
| Fire pits | Allowed year-round; no permit for portable/temporary units [6] |
| Fire pit max size | 3 ft diameter [7] |
| Fire pit clearance | 25 ft from structures or combustible material [8] |
Brush burning
Winchester allows open burning during the state season, January 15 to May 1, with a Fire Department permit [1]. Burning is allowed only between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. on days the department authorizes it [2]. Permits are free and issued by phone; call to request one, then call again on the day you plan to burn to confirm burning is allowed [3]. Fires must be at least 75 ft from all dwellings [4], and only when air quality is acceptable.
You may burn brush, cane, driftwood and forestry debris, plus agricultural prunings. You may not burn leaves, grass, hay, stumps, tires, construction debris or household trash [5]. An adult must attend the fire until it's out, with a hose or extinguisher and tools on hand. If a fire gets away, you can be liable for firefighting costs and fines.
Fire pits, chimineas and outdoor fireplaces
The Fire Department allows portable and temporary fire pits, chimineas and outdoor fireplaces year-round, and no permit is required for portable units [6]. Conditions:
- The fire must be no more than 3 ft in diameter [7].
- It must be at least 25 ft from any structure or combustible material [8].
- It must sit on a non-combustible surface at grade, never under a roof, overhang or canopy.
- A competent person 18 or older must attend it, with water or an extinguisher ready.
- Burn only dry seasoned wood, charcoal or briquettes. The department may order a fire put out if smoke complaints come in.
The department's open-burning page, by contrast, says a fire pit used for anything other than cooking falls under the January 15 - May 1 season and hours, so call the Fire Department before using a fire pit outside that season. A permanent fire pit or fireplace may need a Building Department permit. Outdoor cooking fires are allowed year-round.
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Next steps
- For brush burning, call the Winchester Fire Department at 781-729-1802 (Jan. 15 - May 1) to get a free burn permit.
- On burn day, call again to confirm burning is authorized and check air quality (MassDEP hotline 800-882-1497).
- Set the pile at least 75 ft from any house, keep a charged hose handy, and stay with the fire until it's out.
- For a fire pit, keep the fire 3 ft across or less and 25 ft from structures; ask the Building Department before installing a permanent one.
Common questions
- Can I burn brush in Winchester, Massachusetts?
- Yes, only from January 15 to May 1, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with a free permit requested by phone from the Fire Department at 781-729-1802, and at least 75 ft from any dwelling.
- Are fire pits allowed in Winchester, Massachusetts?
- Under the Fire Department's fire-pit rules, portable fire pits are allowed year-round without a permit if the fire is 3 ft across or less and 25 ft from structures. Another page ties non-cooking fire pits to the burn season, so confirm first.
- What can I not burn in Winchester, Massachusetts?
- Leaves, grass, hay, stumps, tires, construction debris and household trash.
- How much is a burn permit in Winchester, Massachusetts?
- It's free, requested by phone from 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
- WFD Open Burning page, Winchester Fire Department - Open Burning
Open burning is allowed in Winchester from January 15 to May 1 with a permit.
- WFD Open Burning page - Daily Hours, Winchester Fire Department - Open Burning
Burning is only allowed between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on days the fire department has authorized burning.
- WFD Open Burning page - Getting a burn permit, Winchester Fire Department - Open Burning
Burn permits are issued by phone, free of charge — there is no online form and no fee.
- WFD Open Burning page - Clearance, Winchester Fire Department - Open Burning
Fires must be at least 75 feet from all dwellings, and set as close as possible to the source of the material being burned.
- WFD Open Burning page - What You Can & Can't Burn, Winchester Fire Department - Open Burning
Leaves, grass, hay, and stumps
- WFD Fire Pit Regulations, Winchester Fire Department - Fire Pit Regulations
Portable fire pits, chimineas, and outdoor fireplaces are allowed in Winchester year-round.
- WFD Fire Pit Regulations - Requirement 01, Winchester Fire Department - Fire Pit Regulations
The fire must be small and manageable, no greater than 3 feet in diameter.
- WFD Fire Pit Regulations - Requirement 05, Winchester Fire Department - Fire Pit Regulations
Fires must not be located within 25 feet of a structure or combustible material.