Norfolk County has no designated wildfire hazard zones — not a high-risk WUI region. MA Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) Bureau of Forest Fire Control runs the state wildfire program. Blue Hills Reservation carries moderate risk.
Massachusetts is not a high-wildfire state and Norfolk County has no formal Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) hazard zones like those in the West. The MA Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) Bureau of Forest Fire Control monitors fire danger statewide and coordinates with local fire departments. Within Norfolk County, the Blue Hills Reservation (6,000+ acres of DCR-managed forest spanning Milton, Quincy, Canton, Randolph, Braintree) and wooded areas of Medfield, Dover, and Sherborn see periodic brush fires, generally in April-May and October. MA Fire Code (527 CMR 1.00, based on NFPA 1) requires 30 ft defensible clearance for open burning. Outdoor burning regulated under MGL c. 48 §13 — brush burning only January 15-May 1 with fire permit. Red-flag fire weather warnings issued by NWS trigger temporary burn bans by State Fire Marshal and local chiefs. No MA statewide building-material requirements analogous to CA Chapter 7A.
Open burning out of season: up to $1,000 under MGL c. 48 §13. Creating fire hazard: MGL c. 48 §9. Non-compliance with red-flag warning: citations, potential criminal charge if fire results.
Wellesley, MA
Wellesley allows garage conversions to ADUs under Wellesley Zoning Bylaw §5.13 (as amended April 15, 2025 by Article 40.1) consistent with Section 8 of the M...
Wellesley, MA
Wellesley regulates ADUs under Section 5.13 of the Wellesley Zoning Bylaw. At the April 2025 Annual Town Meeting, Wellesley adopted Article 40.1 to amend its...
Wellesley, MA
Wellesley's Building Department exempts one-story sheds/accessory buildings of 100 square feet or less from a building permit, but they must still comply wit...
See how Wellesley's wildfire zones rules stack up against other locations.
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