The 2026 Open Burning Season begins on Thursday, Jan. 15, and ends on May 1.
Open burning during this period is governed by the following regulations: Issuance of permit by local fire department, only permitted between 10 a. m. and 4 p.m. daily, must be 75 feet from any building or structure, and constant attendance and supervision.
TO OBTAIN A PERMIT:
Residents can apply for a burn permit today by creating an account via the department’s burn permit portal: merrimac.firepermits.com.
Residents will receive an email notifying them when the permit is approved, following receipt of payment. On any day that a resident plans to burn, the permit must be activated by visiting their merrimac.firepermits.com account. When a burn is activated, the department’s dispatch is able to quickly view the location of the open burn, which will assist in public safety and emergency management this burn season.
If conditions are unsafe for burning, such as high winds or drought, a notification will be posted on the homepage and the system will prevent an individual from activating a burn permit.
Residents are specifically allowed to burn the following:
- Brush, cane, driftwood, and forestry debris
- Agricultural materials, including fruit tree and bush prunings, raspberry stalks, and infected beehives
- Trees and brush from agricultural land clearing
- Fungus-infected elm wood, if no other acceptable means of disposal are available
Residents are prohibited from burning the following:
- Leaves of any origin
- Brush, cane, trees, or driftwood obtained from commercial or industrial land clearing
- Grass, hay, tree stumps, or tires
- Construction or demolition materials
- Household trash of any type
Those found to be in violation of open burning policies can face large fines and potential jail time. Local fire departments also reserve the right to deny any resident a permit due to hazardous weather conditions or other non-permitting circumstances.
For further information, visit www.mass.gov/info-details/open-burning-safety
