Open Burning Requirements

Burning Permit Requirements: 

Open burning, with a permit issued by the Ashland Fire Department,is allowed from January 15th to May 1st under regulations of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Permits can be obtained daily during normal working hours at the Cedar Street Fire Station located at 70 Cedar Street. Permits are granted at the sole discretion of the Fire Chief and/or the Duty Officer pending weather conditions and/or other factors.

Permits Do not carry over yearly, each permit issued for the burning season expires on May 1st of the year issued. New Permits are issued to Residents with the beginning of each new burning season upon their request. Burning permits are issued to resident with no fee and can be easily obtained at the Cedar Street Station.

What can be burned:

      Brush, cane, driftwood and forestry debris from other than commercial or industrial land clearing

      Burning must be at least 75 feet from all dwellings

      Burning must be carried out between 10AM and 4PM

      Burning must take place on land closest to the source of material to be burned.

      Burning must be supervised by an adult

      A water source (hose) must be close by at all times 

      Materials normally associated with the pursuit of agriculture, such as fruit tree pruning, dead

      raspberry stalks, blueberry patches for pruning purposes, infected beehives for disease control.

      Trees and brush resulting from agricultural land clearing.

      Fungus invested Elmwood if no other acceptable means of disposal is available. (Disease free 

      brush is not an acceptable starting aid.)

What can not be burned!:

                  Brush, trees, cane, and driftwood from commercial and/or institutional land clearing operations.

      Grass, hay, leaves, and stumps.

      Tires

      Burning at landfills or refuse disposal facilities other than approved sites.

      Stacking, placing, or storing combustible material such that the Department may presume that it

      will be burned.       

Remember legal burning officaly starts Jan 15th with a Permit in hand from Ashland Fire!!