Norton Fire Department Announces Information on 2025 Open Burning Season

NORTON — Chief Shawn Simmons and the Norton Fire Department would like to remind residents that open burning season begins Jan. 15 and runs through May 1. A permit is required to open burn in compliance with Massachusetts law.

Permits:

Residents can begin applying for a burn permit today by creating an account via the department’s burn permit portal: norton.firepermits.com. Once you are registered, you can apply for your burn permit online by clicking “Get a Permit.” Residents will receive an email notifying them the permit is approved.

Once registered, residents can sign up to burn debris between the hours of 9:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.

If conditions are unsafe for burning, such as high winds or drought, a notification will be posted on the homepage.

Individuals without computer access should call the Norton Fire Department at 508-285-0248 for assistance with their burn permit application.

Open Burning: 

Burning must be done: 

• Between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., from Jan. 15 to May 1
• At least 75 feet from all buildings
• As close as possible to the source of the material being burned

Residents are allowed to burn:

• Brush, cane, driftwood, and forestry debris (not from commercial or industrial land clearing)
• Agricultural materials, including fruit tree and bush prunings, raspberry stalks, and infected bee hives for disease control
• Trees and brush from agricultural land clearing
• Fungus-infected elm wood, if no other acceptable means of disposal is available

Residents may not burn:

• Leaves
• Brush, trees, cane, or driftwood from commercial or industrial land clearing
• Grass, hay, leaves, stumps, or tires
• Construction materials or demolition debris
• Household trash

What times are best for open burning?

• You can help prevent wildland fires by burning early in the season. Wet and snowy winter conditions help hinder the rapid spread of fire on or under the ground.
• Changing weather conditions and increased fire danger in spring can lead to many days when open burning is not allowed.
• Brush fire risk is high during April. Dead grass, leaves, and wood are dangerous tinder when snow recedes, grounds are no longer wet, and winds are high.

For more information on open burning in Massachusetts, visit Mass.gov.