Open Burning Season January 15th - May 1st

Open Burning in Massachusetts is regulated by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection and enforced by the Essex Fire Department. Open burning season runs from Jan 15th – May 1st. A valid permit obtained from the local fire department is required. The Fire Chief reserves the right to deny or cancel open burning on any day due to weather or environmental conditions.

Burning permit for a homeowner is $20.00, Seniors age 60 and over are $10.00.

We offer and encourage on-line burning permits purchase and daily permit activation.

For anyone without access to a computer, in-person permits will be sold during regular business hours.

No cash will be accepted!

Click To Purchase Burning Permit On-line

Click To check if burning allowed and Activate Your Burning Permit On-line

REGULATIONS FOR OPEN BURNING

January 15 through May 1

The Following Regulations Must Be Followed;

1. A permit for all open burning is required from the Fire Department.
2. Permits will only be issued to homeowners, not to businesses.
3. The Fire Department will determine daily if burning will allowed.
4. When burning is allowed, prior to starting any open burning, you must activate your permit online or by calling 978-768-6363 option 0 during the hours of 9 AM and 12 PM.
5. No permits can be activated or fire’s started after 12 noon.
6. Burning is only allowed between 10 AM & 4 PM
7. ALL FIRES MUST BE EXTINGUISHED BY 4 PM
8. Burning must be at least 75 feet from all buildings.
9. The use of accelerants is strictly prohibited.
10. Fire Control Tools and Water Supply Must Be Present
11. The fire must NEVER be left unattended.
12. Burning must take place on land proximate to the source of material being burned.
13. Burning must be conducted without causing hardship or nuisance to others.
14. Under the law you are allowed to burn debris from the following: Brush, cane, driftwood, and forestry debris from other than commercial or industrial land clearing operations. Materials normally associated with the pursuit of agriculture such as, fruit tree pruning’s, dead raspberry stalks, blueberry patches for pruning purposes, and infected beehives for disease control. Trees and brush resulting from agricultural land clearing. Fungus infected elm wood, if no other acceptable means of disposal is available.
15.  Materials not allowed to be burned by law: Debris from commercial and/or industrial land clearing operations, grass, hay, leaves and stumps, and tires, construction material and debris, or other household items or furniture.
16. The issuing of a permit does not release the holder from liability for damage caused by their fire.

People conducting illegal burning, or who allow a fire to get out of control, may be held liable for costs of extinguishing a fire, fined, and even imprisoned (MGL c.48 s.13).

http://www.mass.gov/eea/agencies/massdep/air/quality/open-burning-answers-to-your-burning-questions.html .

The Essex Fire Department may alter, limit, restrict or revoke permits because of drought, equipment problems or apparatus out of service.