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.
Unlike western states, Massachusetts has no wildland-urban interface maps, no fire-hazard severity zones, and no law requiring homeowners to clear vegetation around structures. Wildfire prevention in Essex County relies on the seasonal open-burning window, permit requirements, and the fire chief's authority to suspend all burning during red-flag conditions. Areas around the Lynn Woods reservation, Willowdale State Forest, and Georgetown-Rowley State Forest carry real brush-fire risk, and local departments post burn bans when conditions warrant. No zoning overlay imposes construction or landscaping requirements based on wildfire exposure.
No penalties attach to wildfire zoning because none exists. Violating an active burn ban or open-burning rule is punishable by a fine of up to $500 plus the cost of suppression.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Swampscott, MA
Swampscott restricts commercial vehicle parking in residential districts through its Zoning By-Law. Commercial vehicles and equipment owned by service contra...
Essex County, MA
Light trespass, a neighbor's glare spilling onto your property, is controlled by town outdoor-lighting bylaws across Essex County, not by state law. Fixtures...
Essex County, MA
Massachusetts has no statewide dark-sky law, so night-sky protection in Essex County comes from town outdoor-lighting bylaws. Rowley, Rockport, and other com...
Essex County, MA
Parks in Essex County close at night. State conservation land follows a dawn-to-dusk rule under 302 CMR 12.03, and each town sets matching hours for its own ...
Essex County, MA
Massachusetts has no statewide juvenile curfew, and Essex County has no county code. A few towns keep local nighttime curfews, but the state's high court lim...
Essex County, MA
Commercial drone work anywhere in Essex County runs under the FAA's Part 107 rule. Massachusetts adds no county permit; operators hold a Remote Pilot Certifi...
See how Swampscott's wildfire zones rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.