Lowell, MA Fire Regulations: Outdoor Burning (2026)
Outdoor burning rules in Lowell, MA, also called the burn ban, open burning, or fire restriction ordinance, set when you can burn yard waste, debris, or run a recreational fire.
Key Facts
- Local rule
- Open burning prohibited at all times (no burning season)
- State regulation
- 310 CMR 7.07(3)(e); 527 CMR 1.0 section 10.10.6
- Fire pits / chimineas
- Wood burning not allowed
- Fire Prevention
- 978-459-5554 / 978-459-5557
Summary
Lowell is one of 22 Massachusetts communities where open burning is prohibited at all times. Under 310 CMR 7.07(3)(e), no resident may conduct open/outside burning of brush, leaves, or other materials in the city, regardless of season.
The Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) and the Lowell Fire Department limit open burning for public health and safety reasons. Per MassDEP open burning is prohibited in 22 densely built and populated cities and towns. Pursuant to 310 CMR 7.07 (3) (e), Lowell is one of 22 communities in the Commonwealth in which open burning is NOT PERMITTED. This does not apply to the use of charcoal and propane grills for cooking meeting all the requirements within. Burning is not allowed in fire pits, chimineas or outdoor wood burning fireplaces/stoves.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: the cited page had not changed since it was quoted.
Full Breakdown
The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) and the Lowell Fire Department prohibit open burning in 22 densely built and populated cities and towns, and Lowell is on that list. Per 310 CMR 7.07(3)(e), Lowell is one of the communities in which open burning is NOT permitted at any time of year. Unlike most Massachusetts towns, where an open-burning season runs from January 15 through May 1 under permit, Lowell has no open-burning season whatsoever. The Lowell Fire Department's official Open/Outside Burning Regulations confirm the prohibition extends to burning in fire pits, chimineas, and outdoor wood-burning fireplaces or stoves. The only burning-related exemptions are charcoal and propane grills used for cooking and propane/natural-gas heating appliances that meet 527 CMR 1.0 requirements (see fire-pit-rules and recreational-fire). Questions go to Lowell Fire Prevention at 978-459-5554 or 978-459-5557.
Violations & Fines
Open burning in violation of 310 CMR 7.07 is enforced by MassDEP and the Lowell Fire Department; air-pollution violations under M.G.L. c. 111, sections 142A-142B carry civil penalties of up to $25,000 per day, and the fire department may order any unlawful fire extinguished immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there an open-burning season in Lowell?
Can I burn leaves or brush in my Lowell yard?
Are grills affected by the ban?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lowell
How Lowell compares: Cities with the Strictest Outdoor Burning Rules·Compare Lowell to another location·View the Massachusetts fire regulations overview
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Outdoor Burning in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle outdoor burning.