Outdoor Burning Season in Bedford ~ January 15 to  May 1, 2022

~ Submitted by the Bedford Fire Department

Massachusetts state-regulated outdoor burning season runs from January 15 through May 1 each year.

A written burning permit must be obtained from the Fire Department prior to burning. The permit is available from the administration side of the fire station located at 55 The Great Road across from Bedford Common.  Burning permits can be obtained Monday through Thursday from 8 am to 4 pm, and Friday from 8 am to 1 pm, or through the Fire Department website found on www.bedfordma.gov

The decision to allow outdoor burning is made on a daily basis based on information from the Department of Environmental Protection which has the ability to prohibit burning due to air quality or adverse weather conditions, and with consideration to local events that may tax resources and impact the response to an outdoor burning incident

Once you have obtained this written permit, you must call 781- 275-7262 x 5307 each day that you want to burn in order to find out if outdoor burning is allowed for that day. If burning is permitted that day, leave your permit number and your address.

If you have obtained a burning permit in the past, your permit number will remain the same.  Please call the fire station with any permitting questions, 781-275-7262 x 4202, during business hours.

The following is an overview of the regulations.

1. A permit will be required for permission to burn.
2. Burning will be allowed from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. ALL FIRES MUST BE EXTINGUISHED BY 4:00 PM.
3. Burning must be at least 75 feet from all dwelling units.
4. No starters, such as gasoline or tires, may be used.
5. No hay, grass, leaves, whole trees, stumps, carpentry debris, building debris, paper or rubbish may be burned at any time.
6. Burning must be conducted without causing a hardship or nuisance to others.
7. A means of extinguishing the fire must be available at all times, and the fire must never be left unattended.
8. No burning may commence after 2:00 pm on any given day.

For a full set of applicable rules please see the outdoor burning page of the Fire Department’s website.