Chelsea, MA Fire Regulations: Fire Pits & Backyard Fires (2026)
Fire pit rules in Chelsea, MA, also called outdoor burning, recreational fire, or open flame ordinances, cover fuel types, clearances, and when burning is allowed.
Key Facts
- Permit required from
- Chief of the Chelsea Fire Department
- Where restricted
- Public way or close proximity to any building
- State regulation cited
- 527 CMR 10.22
- Maximum fine
- $300.00 per day (Sec. 6-87(b))
- Appeal path
- Written appeal to state fire marshal, 10 days
Summary
Chelsea bans open bonfires or other fires in a public way or close to any building unless the person first obtains a permit from the chief of the fire department, under Code of Ordinances Section 6-95. The permit requirement tracks the state fire prevention regulation at 527 CMR 10.22, and the fire chief controls whether and how a recreational or bonfire-style fire is allowed.
No person shall make a bonfire or any other fire in a public way or in close proximity to any building, except in accordance with a permit from the chief of the fire department as required by 527 CMR 10.22.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 26).
Full Breakdown
22. Because the ordinance does not define a minimum distance for 'close proximity,' the fire chief has discretion to decide case by case whether a proposed fire pit, bonfire, or other open burn sits too near a structure to proceed without sign-off, effectively making every backyard fire pit or recreational bonfire in Chelsea a permit-first activity rather than a by-right one. The broader fire prevention article backs this permit power with real enforcement teeth: Section 6-87 adopts the entire state board of fire prevention code at 527 CMR by reference as controlling within city limits, and Section 6-86 lets the fire chief require whatever fire prevention or protection measures, including a paid fire detail, the chief judges necessary for public health, safety, and welfare. c. 148, Section 31.
Violations & Fines
Burning without the chief's permit in a public way or near a building violates Section 6-95 and the incorporated state fire prevention code at 527 CMR, and is punishable under Section 6-87(b) by a fine of up to $300.00, with each day of an ongoing violation a separate offense. The chief of the fire department enforces the section and may also order the fire extinguished on the spot for public safety.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I have a backyard fire pit in Chelsea without a permit?
What rule does Chelsea's fire chief use to grant or deny a bonfire permit?
What happens if someone burns without a permit in Chelsea?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Chelsea
How Chelsea compares: Cities with the Strictest Fire Pit Rules·Compare Chelsea to another location·View the Massachusetts fire regulations overview
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Fire Pits & Backyard Fires in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle fire pits & backyard fires.