Open Burning in Massachusetts is regulated by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection and enforced by the local Fire Department. Open burning season runs from Jan 15 – May 1. A valid permit obtained from the local fire department is required. The Fire Chief reserves the right to deny open burning on any day due to weather or environmental conditions.
The Holden Fire Department began issuing open burning permits beginning on Friday, January 15th. We are happy to introduce a new online system this year to obtain your permit, and activate it daily.
The fee for an open burning permit is $20/year. This allows the permit holder to burn as many time necessary throughout the burning season.
If a resident does not need a seasonal permit, a one-time permit will be allowed for a fee of $10. That permit will only be valid for that day. To obtain this permit, call Fire Headquarters @ (508) 829-0266 between the hours of 9:00 am and 4:00 pm the previous day you wish to burn. A firefighter will be out to inspect the pile, collect the fee, and issue the permit.
Obtaining a Permit for Open Burning:
You can obtain your open burning permit in one of two ways:
1. Stop by Fire Headquarters between the hours of 9am and 4pm Monday – Friday. (Weekend hours will be available beginning the first weekend in March). Obtain and fill out an application, agree to the terms and conditions of the open burning regulations and pay the $20 open burning fee. This permit will be valid through May 1st. You will be assigned a permit number which will be required each time you activate it during the burning season.
Or
2. Click here to obtain your permit by filling out the form online. To obtain your permit online, you will need a valid credit card, email address, agree to the terms and conditions of the open burning regulations, and pay the $20* fee online (*an additional $3.00 convenience fee applies to all credit card transactions done online). This permit will be valid through May 1st. You will be assigned a permit number which will be required each time you activate it during the burning season.
Daily Activation of Your Permit:
Each day you wish to burn, you must activate your permit. This can be done in one of two ways:
Or
2. Call the Brush Permit line at (508) 829-4818 after 4 pm the previous day you wish to burn. You will be asked your permit number, name, address, and phone number. Please have this information handy when you call.
If you pick up your permit at the fire station, as long as you provide a valid email address you can activate your permit daily through the online application. The $3.00 convenience fee only applies to purchasing your permit online.
For any questions, please contact Fire Headquarters at (508) 829-0266 during normal business hours.
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