Manchester, NH Fire Regulations: Outdoor Burning (2026)
Outdoor burning rules in Manchester, NH, 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
- Permit required
- Yes, Class I/II recreational fires
- Inspection fee
- $50
- Renewal
- Annually, non-transferable
- Enforcing agency
- Manchester Fire Department
Summary
Manchester requires a Fire Department permit before any outdoor recreational fire (Class I or Class II), with a $50 site inspection fee and annual renewal.
A site inspection for a recreational fire permit (Class I and Class II fires only) shall be performed by the Fire Department at a charge of $50. Permits are renewable every year.
(I) An application for a welding and/or hot work permit in an occupied building to be issued by the Fire Department shall be accompanied by a fee of $25. (Ord. passed 6-4-85; Am. Ord. passed 5-16-89; Am. Ord. passed 5-22-90; Am. Ord. passed 9-4-91; Am. Ord. passed 6-4-91; Am. Ord. passed 2-7-95; Am. Ord. passed
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2025 S-25: current through Ord. passed 6-3-2025).
Full Breakdown
Under City Code § 92.09(H), backyard fire pits and other recreational fires classed as Class I or Class II require a Fire Department site inspection before a permit issues, at a $50 charge, and the permit must be renewed every year. The city separately adopted the 2006 International Fire Code (§ 92.05) as its governing fire-safety code, enforced by the Chief of the Fire Department, so any recreational-fire permit sits inside that adopted code's open-burning and permit framework. Permits obtained under Chapter 92 generally are not transferable (§ 92.09(B)).
Violations & Fines
Burning without the required permit, or violating permit conditions, is enforced by the Fire Chief under Chapter 92; unless another penalty applies, violations carry the general code fine under § 10.99, capped per R.S.A. 47:17, with each day a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I have a backyard fire pit in Manchester without a permit?
What happens if I burn without a permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Manchester
How Manchester compares: Cities with the Strictest Outdoor Burning Rules·Compare Manchester to another location·View the New Hampshire fire regulations overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Outdoor Burning in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle outdoor burning.