GEORGETOWN — Chief Fred A. Mitchell Jr. and the Georgetown Fire Department wish to remind residents of the rules and regulations related to open burning in town.
Permits are required in order to conduct open burning. Permits may be obtained online by clicking here. Permits cost $10 (plus a $2.50 fee online).
Residents who have already obtained a permit may activate them online here. For general information about open burning in Georgetown, click here.
Residents who have obtained permits need to call the state open burning hotline at 617-556-1021 on the day they wish to burn. Residents must also call the Georgetown Fire Department at 978-352-5757 no earlier than 9:30 a.m. and no later than noon on the day they intend to burn.
Burning is prohibited on Class four and five days.
Fires must be kept 75 feet away from buildings and not cause a smoke nuisance to neighbors. In addition, the fire must be attended and a hose made available.
Outdoor burning is only permitted for brush, cane, driftwood, forestry debris, agricultural debris and — under certain conditions — fungus-infected elm wood. Burning grass, hay, leaves, stumps, and commercial or industrial land clearing for non-agricultural purposes is prohibited.
Violations of the permit requirements, open burning law and/or open burning regulations will be grounds for permit revocation. According to Massachusetts law, anyone found burning without a permit may be subject to criminal charges, the punishment for which is a fine of up to $500, plus the cost of suppression, or by imprisonment for up to one month, or both.
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