5 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Essex County, Massachusetts.
Verified from official government sources
Wood-burning fire pits are open-air fires and need permission from your local fire department under MGL c.48 §13, granted for up to two days. Propane and gas fire pits are allowed without a permit.
MGL c.48 §13
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. Persons eighteen years of age or older may, without a permit, set, maintain or increase a ...
All consumer fireworks are illegal across Essex County. Massachusetts bans them statewide under MGL c.148 §39. Possession, use, sale, or transport carries fines and seizure; only state-licensed professional displays are permitted.
MGL c.148 §39
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 thereof... Whoever shall sell or keep for sale or offer for sale any fireworks in violation of this section shall be punished by a fine of not less than one hundred dollars nor more th...
Burning brush and cut vegetation across Essex County is legal only during the January 15 to May 1 open-burning season, only with a daily fire department permit, and only at least 75 feet from any dwelling under MGL c.48 §13.
MGL c.48 §13
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.
Open burning in Essex County is permitted only from January 15 to May 1, with a permit issued each day by the local fire department under MGL c.48 §13. Burning leaves, trash, and grass is always illegal.
MGL c.48 §13
Whoever violates any provision of this section shall be punished by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars plus the cost of suppression or by imprisonment for not more than one month or both.
Massachusetts designates no wildfire hazard zones and requires no defensible-space clearance. Essex County wildfire risk is managed through the January 15 to May 1 open-burning limits and fire-department burn suspensions during dry, windy conditions.
1 cities in Essex County have their own fire regulations rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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