Burning Permits

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Burning Permit Informationopen burning

Burning Permit Purchase

Burning Permit Activation

Agricultural Permits

  • Agricultural Permits are granted at the sole discretion of the Fire Chief. In addition, if air pollution levels are too great Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection can prohibit burning on a daily basis.
  • Go to "Application for Burning Permit" or come to Plainville Fire Department at 194 South Street during normal business hours to obtain a permit. You will provide your address and contact information and then sign your permit stating you understand the rules and regulations about burning.
  • The fee is $25 and the permit is good for 1 year.
  • To obtain permission to burn on any day from May 1st until January 15th please contact the Duty Officer at 508-695-5252
  • All permits are granted under Commonwealth of Massachusetts Regulation (CMR) 310, Sec 7.07 and may be revoked at any time. Whoever violates any provision of 310 CMR 7.07 shall be subject to a fine of not more than $100 or by imprisonment for not more than one month or both. (Reference MGL c.148 s.13)

Residential Permit Information

  • Open burning, with a permit issued by the Plainville Fire Department, is allowed from January 15th to May 1st under the regulations of the state of Massachusetts. Permits are granted at the sole discretion of the Fire Chief and/or the Duty Officer pending weather conditions. In addition, if air pollution levels are too great Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection can prohibit burning on a daily basis.

Steps to Obtain Permission to Burn

  • All permits are granted under Commonwealth of Massachusetts Regulation (CMR) 310, Sec 7.07, and may be revoked at any time. Whoever violates any provision of 310 CMR 7.07 shall be subject to a fine of not more than $100 or imprisonment for not more than one month or both. (Reference MGL c.148 s.13)
  • Go to "Application for Burning Permit" or come to Plainville Fire Department at 194 South Street during normal business hours to obtain a permit. You will provide your address and contact information and then sign your permit stating you understand the rules and regulations about burning. The fee is $25 and the permit is good for the entire season.
  • On the day you would like to burn, click on "Activate Burning Permit" after 9 am to see if burning will be allowed. If burning is allowed, you can activate your permit and begin burning at 10 am.
  • If you do have a computer you can call (508) 809-5646 to see if burning is allowed for the day.

Burning Rules & Regulations

  • Permits do not carry over yearly, each permit issued for the burning season expires on May 1st of the year issued
  • Burning must be at least 75 feet from all dwellings
  • Burning can not start before 10 am.
  • Burning must start before 1 pm.
  • Fires must be out by 4 pm.
  • Burning must take place on land closest to the source of material to be burned
  • Fires must be supervised by an adult at all times
  • A water source (hose) must be close by at all times

May 1st is the last day you are permitted to burn, there are no extensions for poor weather / air quality.

The use of gasoline or other flammable liquids is prohibited. A small amount of charcoal lighter fluid may be used with a small amount of newspaper and small dry brush branches to help start the fire.

The Fire department must be notified immediately via 911 if the fire gets out of your control. Do not wait to contact us because you think you can put it out yourself.

What Can Be Burned

  1. Brush, cane, driftwood, and forestry debris not from commercial or industrial land clearing
  2. Materials normally associated with the pursuit of agriculture, such as fruit tree pruning, dead raspberry stalks, blueberry patches for pruning purposes, infected beehives for disease control
  3. Trees and brush resulting from agricultural land clearing
  4. Fungus-infected Elm wood, if no other acceptable means of disposal is available (disease-free brush is not an acceptable starting aid)

What Can Not Be Burned

  1. Leaves, grass, hay, and stumps
  2. Material over 4 inches in diameter
  3. Brush, trees, cane, and driftwood from commercial and / or institutional land-clearing operations
  4. Tires and trash