Any open, recreational, or cooking fires shall be constantly attended by a competent person until such fire is extinguished.  This person shall have a garden hose connected to a water supply or other fire-extinguishing equipment readily available for use.

Who Needs a Permit

If you are a resident of the City of Fitchburg who wishes to burn any approved materials, as detailed below, a burn permit is required, per City Ordinance Division 2.

What You Can Burn

Tree limbs and brush may be burned. The burning of all other materials is prohibited - this includes, but is not limited to, leaves, grass clippings, garden debris, and trash.
For approved ways to dispose of many organic and inorganic materials, check out these resources:

• 2018 Recycling Guide
• Grasscycling
• Public Works - Solid Waste

Where You Can Burn

All conditions that could cause a fire to spread to within 25 feet of a structure must be eliminated prior to ignition of the fire.

Open Burning

• Can only be conducted outside of the urban service area (the grey shaded area)
• Open burning is classified as any burning that does not take place in a commercially made fire pit or outdoor fireplace. 
• All open burning must be a minimum of 50 feet from any structure.

Recreational Fires

• May be conducted inside the urban service area, as long as a burn permit is obtained
• Fires must be maintained in a commercially made fire pits/outdoor fireplaces. 
• Must be a minimum of 25 feet from any structure.  

Obtain A Permit

Contact Firehouse #1 at 608-278-2980 and request a burn permit. Burn permits are only issued on the day that you call and are only good for that day.