All permits and inspections listed below are handled by the Fire Chief. Call the Fire Department Office at 978-433-2113 to find out how to obtain a permit or schedule an inspection.

Outdoor Burning

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts allows open outdoor burning, via local permit, between January 15 and May 1 each year.

• Prior to burning in Pepperell, you must obtain a Burning Permit from the Pepperell Fire Department. The fee for a Burning Permit is $20 and you may order it online 
• Due to COVID-19 Restrictions No burn Residential Burn Permits will be processed in person this year at the Fire Station this year.
• If you are looking to renew or get a new Agricultural Permit Please Call 978 433-2113 to make an appointment.

A Burning Permit is good for an entire burning season, but you
MUST CHECK HERE on the day you plan to burn to see if the weather allows for burning and, if so, REGISTER YOUR PERMIT NUMBER in the form below (form not visible when burning is not allowed). You will receive confirmation that your burning request has been authorized.
Safe Burning Tips (pdf)

Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detector Inspections

All Massachusetts residences are required ta have smoke detectors (See MGL 148-26e) and carbon monoxide detectors (See regulations).

Before any residential building can be sold or transferred, the building must be inspected by the Fire Chief to ensure that smoke and CO detectors are properly installed and working. Call the Fire Department office to schedule an inspection.
 

Commercial Permits & Inspections

(These are only for companies with appropriate licenses) 
 

• Underground and aboveground tanks
• Fireworks Displays
• Explosives
• Oil burner installation
• Commercial building fire safety inspections
• Storage of flammables and combustible

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Open Burning Rules and Regulations

Open burning, the burning of any material out-of-doors, releases large amounts of carbon monoxide and other gaseous and solid substances directly into the atmosphere. Open burning causes air pollution and aggravates respiratory problems. Under poor atmospheric conditions, open burning creates a smoke and odor nuisance — as well as a health threat — to area residents especially in densely populated areas. For these reasons, open burning is restricted in Massachusetts.

You must obtain a PERMIT for open burning from your local fire department or fire warden.

Burning (with a permit) of the following materials is ALLOWED:

•brush, cane, driftwood, and forestry debris from other than commercial or industrial land clearing operations between January 15 - May 1st under the following conditions: burning must be at least 75 feet from all dwellings,
 - burning must be carried out between 10am and 4pm, and
 - burning must take place on land closest to the source of material to be burned.

• materials normally associated with the pursuit of agriculture, such as fruit tree prunings, dead raspberry stalks, bluebarry patches for pruning purposes, infected beehives for disease control.
• trees and brush resulting from agricultural land cleaning
• fungus-infected Elmwood if no other acceptable means of disposal is available (disease-free brush is not an acceptable starting aid).

 
 
Permits are also required for the following activities: Training or research in fire protection or prevention with specific approval by the Department of Environmental Protection(DEP)

Burning of the following materials is PROHIBITED statewide:
 

• brush, trees, cane, and driftwood from commerical and/or instituational land clearing operations
• grass, hay, leaves, and stumps
• tires