A permit from the Middleborough Fire Department is required prior to any open burning.
Residents can begin by logging in to the department’s burn permit portal: Middleborough.firepermits.com. If you had an account setup last year, please use the same email to login. If you are a new user, please register. The cost of the permit is $10. Payment should be made online with a credit or debit card or by electronic check. Please contact our business office for questions and assistance in obtaining a burn permit. The business office is open Monday through Friday from 8AM to 4PM and is located on the first floor of the Central Fire Station located at 125 North Main Street.
Residents will receive an email notifying them when the permit is approved, following receipt of payment.
If conditions are unsafe for burning, such as high winds or drought, a notification will be posted on the homepage at Middleborough.firepermits.com.
Individuals who don’t have access to a computer should call the Middleborough Fire Department at (508) 946-2461 for assistance with their burn permit application.
Rules and Regulations for Open Burning
Pursuant to MGL 48.13 and 310 CMR 7.07
Open Burning dates are January 15th through May 1st of the year.
- The person setting the fire shall be the owner of the land or the owner’s authorized agent.
- It is violation to conduct open burning without a valid permit.
- Burning shall be conducted between the hours of 10:00 am and completely extinguished by 4:00 pm on the same day, no fire shall be started after 2:00 pm, burning hours shall be strictly adhered to: violation will be cause for revocation.
- This permit is only valid between the dates of January 15 to May 1st
- This permit does not release the issued party from any liability of damages.
- The open burning law states that only brush may be burnt.
- All fires shall be seventy-five (75) feet from any building and at least thirty (30) feet from any property line.
- Fires shall not be left unattended until entirely extinguished.
- This permit shall be kept with the person conducting the burning and shall be shown to any Firefighter, Police Officer, or State Forestry Officer upon request.
- The Fire Department reserves the right to allow or suspend open burning at any time.
- There will be days where open burning will NOT be allowed, please check middleborough.firepermits.com for updates.
- Any violation of the above conditions will be cause for revocation of this permit.
Safety Tips for Open Burning Season:
Burning must be done:
- Between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., from Jan. 15 to May 1
- At least 75 feet from all buildings
- As close as possible to the source of material being burned
Residents are allowed to burn:
- Brush, cane, driftwood and forestry debris (but not from commercial or industrial land clearing)
- Agricultural materials including fruit tree and bush prunings, raspberry stalks, and infected bee hives for disease control
- Trees and brush from agricultural land clearing
- Fungus-infected elm wood, if no other acceptable means of disposal is available
Residents may not burn:
- Leaves
- Brush, trees, cane or driftwood from commercial or industrial land clearing
- Grass, hay, leaves, stumps or tires
- Construction materials or demolition debris
- Household trash
What times are best for open burning?
- You can help prevent wildland fires by burning early in the season. Wet and snowy winter conditions help hinder the rapid spread of fire on or under the ground.
- Changing weather conditions and increased fire danger in spring can lead to many days when open burning is not allowed.
- April is usually the worst month for brush fires. When snow recedes, but before new growth emerges, last year’s dead grass, leaves and wood are dangerous tinder. Winds also tend to be strong and unpredictable in April.
For more information on open burning in Massachusetts, visit Mass.gov.