All permits and inspections listed below are handled by the Fire Chief. Call the Fire Department Office at 978-433-2113 to find out how to obtain a permit or schedule an inspection.

Outdoor Burning

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts allows open outdoor burning, via local permit, between January 15 and May 1 each year.

Prior to burning in Pepperell, you must obtain a Burning Permit from the Pepperell Fire Department. The fee for a Burning Permit is $15 and you may order it online or in person at the Fire Department Headquarters.

A Burning Permit is good for an entire burning season, but you
MUST CHECK HERE on the day you plan to burn to see if the weather allows for burning and, if so, REGISTER YOUR PERMIT NUMBER in the form below (form not visible when burning is not allowed). You will receive confirmation that your burning request has been authorized.

Burning is allowed at this time.
Permit: 12-
.BU-PM
Code (Last 4 digits of your phone number):

By clicking on the Submit Burn Request button, I agree to conform to the rules & regulations of the Pepperell Fire Department and Massachusetts Reg. 310 CMR 7.07 printed on the permit. Burning starts at 10:00am and must be completely out by 4:00pm.

Safe Burning Tips (pdf)

Download a Pepperell Fire Department Burning Permit Application (pdf)

See Commonwealth of Massachusetts Open Burning Rules and Regulations

Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detector Inspections

All Massachusetts residences are required ta have smoke detectors (See MGL 148-26e) and carbon monoxide detectors (See regulations).

Before any residential building can be sold or transferred, the building must be inspected by the Fire Chief to ensure that smoke and CO detectors are properly installed and working. Call the Fire Department office to schedule an inspection.

Commercial Permits & Inspections

(These are only for companies with appropriate licenses)

  • Underground and aboveground tanks
  • Fireworks Displays
  • Explosives
  • Oil burner installation
  • Commercial building fire safety inspections
  • Storage of flammables and combustibles

 

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Open Burning Rules and Regulations

Open burning, the burning of any material out-of-doors, releases large amounts of carbon monoxide and other gaseous and solid substances directly into the atmosphere. Open burning causes air pollution and aggravates respiratory problems. Under poor atmospheric conditions, open burning creates a smoke and odor nuisance — as well as a health threat — to area residents especially in densely populated areas. For these reasons, open burning is restricted in Massachusetts.

You must obtain a PERMIT for open burning from your local fire department or fire warden.

Burning (with a permit) of the following materials is ALLOWED:

  • brush, cane, driftwood, and forestry debris from other than commercial or industrial land clearing operations between January 15 - May 1st under the following conditions:
    • burning must be at least 75 feet from all dwellings,
    • burning must be carried out between 10am and 4pm, and
    • burning must take place on land closest to the source of material to be burned.
  • materials normally associated with the pursuit of agriculture, such as fruit tree prunings, dead raspberry stalks, bluebarry patches for pruning purposes, infected beehives for disease control.
  • trees and brush resulting from agricultural land cleaning
  • fungus-infected Elmwood if no other acceptable means of disposal is available (disease-free brush is not an acceptable starting aid).

Permits are also required for the following activities: Training or research in fire protection or prevention with specific approval by the Department of Environmental Protection(DEP)

Burning of the following materials is PROHIBITED statewide:

  • brush, trees, cane, and driftwood from commerical and/or instituational land clearing operations
  • grass, hay, leaves, and stumps
  • tires

Also prohibited is:

  • 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: Open Burning Causes Air Pollution

Suggested Guidelines for Conducting Open Burning:

Starting the Fire

  • Before placing materials to be burned in an area, remove all grass
  • Before burning brush, dry by cutting in advance or covering
  • Start the fire using either small amounts of kerosene, #2 fuel (no gasoline), or a pressurized burner which uses diesel fuel

While Burning

  • Someone must attend the fire until completely extinguished.
  • Have available a water supply, such as a pressurized water pump can or hose, and shovels or rakes for controlling the fire

Extinguishing the Fire

  • Burn the fire down to coals and spread the coals with snow, water, sand or soil
  • All open burning must be conducted during periods of good atmospheric ventilation* without causing a nuisance* (*as determined by DEP)

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