Fire Permit Information
Laws and Regulations
Per RSA 227-L:17, the state of New Hampshire requires anyone who wishes to burn clean, ordinary combustibles such as leaves, brush or untreated lumber, or have a camp or cooking fire to have written permission from the landowner and a written fire permit from the local forest fire warden or local fire department in the town or city where the fire will be kindled.
Commonly asked Questions
Where do I obtain a Fire Permit? Fire Permits are obtained locally through the Forest Fire Warden, Deputy Warden’s and Issuing Agents. You can contact your Town Office or Fire Department to find out who your town Forest Fire Warden is. Our Forest Fire Warden is Steve Hansen. He can be reached at: (w) 938-5161
How much does a Fire Permit cost? There is no cost to obtain a written fire permit from a Warden, Deputy Warden or Issuing Agent.
When is a Fire Permit Required? A Fire Permit is required anytime there is not a 100 foot radius of complete snow cover around the fire.
What time can a fire be kindled? Fires may only be kindled after 5:00 p.m. and must be extinguished before 9:00 a.m.
There are two exemptions to this:
1: When the Forest Fire Warden determines that conditions are appropriate Category I (Campfire) permits may allow for a small (under 2 foot diameter) fire to be burned during the day.
2: When there is continuous rain fall, however, the fire must be extinguished when the rain stops and depending on what town you are burning in, there may be some variances to these times. A Fire Permit is still required when it is raining.
What can be burned? Clean, untreated wood and brush. Material must be no greater than 5 inches in diameter.
What cannot be burned? Combustible domestic waste as defined by RSA-125N, including, but not limited to:
Household trash
Packaging Material
Plastic
Coated or laminated paper
Rubber
Painted or treated wood
Coated or treated cardboard
Oily rags
Animal, vegetable and kitchen waste
Treated wood or composite materials