5 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 4 cities in Bristol County, Massachusetts.
Verified from official government sources
Fire pit regulations in Bristol County vary by municipality. In towns with seasonal open burning, recreational fire pits are subject to MassDEP regulations. In Fall River and New Bedford (permanent ban), only cooking-purpose fire pits may be allowed. Gas and propane fire pits are generally treated differently.
All consumer fireworks including sparklers are illegal throughout Massachusetts under MGL Ch. 148 §39. This applies to all of Bristol County. Only licensed professionals may conduct public displays with permits from the local fire department and State Fire Marshal.
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 148, § 39 – Fireworks; sale, possession, and use
No person shall sell, or keep or offer for sale, or have in his possession, or under his control, or use, or explode, or cause to explode, any combustible or explosive composition or substance, or any combination of such compositions or substances, or any other article, which was prepared for the purpose of producing a visible or audible effect by combustion, explosion, deflagration, or detonat...
Bristol County may require vegetation management for fire safety. MA does not have a statewide defensible space mandate. Local property maintenance applies.
Most Bristol County towns allow open burning from January 15 to May 1 with a free fire department permit under 310 CMR 7.07. However, Fall River and New Bedford are on the MassDEP list of communities where open burning is permanently banned due to population density.
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 48, § 13 – Open burning; permits
No person shall set, maintain or increase a fire in the open air at any time except by permission, covering a period not exceeding two days from the date thereof, granted by the forest warden or chief of the fire department in cities and towns, or, in cities having such an official, the fire commissioner; provided, that if such permission is not in writing, a written record of the granting ther...
Bristol County is not in a high wildfire-hazard zone like western states, but DCR Bureau of Forest Fire Control enforces MGL ch. 48 §13 open-burning rules. Freetown-Fall River State Forest and pine barrens near Lakeville carry elevated brush-fire risk each spring.
4 cities in Bristol County have their own fire regulations rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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