BRUSH BURNING INFORMATION

THE FOLLOWING IS THE BRUSH BURNING PERMIT PROCESS FOR THE 2011 BRUSH BURNING SEASON (January 15 to May 1):

·       Written Brush Burning permits MUST be obtained annually at the Fire Station, 21 Main Street, or via the internet at: http://www.mapsonline.net/southboroughma/forms/template_select.php?id=637081385

On-Line permit requests can take 24 hours or more to process. Your permit is NOT VALID until you receive an e-mail confirming the transaction. If you wish to burn on the day that you apply for a permit, you must do so in person at the fire station between the hours listed below.

o      Permits are available from now until May 1st.

o      Permits shall be issued to residents only (no landscapers or commercial permits allowed by regulations)

·       Hours to obtain permits at the fire station are:

o      Monday through Friday          8:00 AM to 6:00 PM

o      Saturday                                   9:00 AM to 1:00 PM

·       Permit fee for the season is $10.00

o      When applying in person, only checks made out to the Town of Southborough will be accepted  

• Credit Card payment is accepted on line. Click here for on-line payment http://www.mapsonline.net/southboroughma/forms/template_select.php?id=637081385

o      Senior citizens 65 years of age and over are free

·       Permit holders must call every day that you plan to burn, however, you can only call between 9:00 AM and 12 NOON for permission to burn.

o      Burning can only be conducted between 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM per Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection regulations [310 CMR 7.07 (3)(e)]. Burning may be denied due to environmental factors.

Massachusetts DEP strongly encourages the chipping and mulching of brush versus burning due to environmental concerns. The Town's Department of Public Works accepts brush at the Town's Transfer Station.

Whoever violates any provision of this section shall be punished by a fine of not more than $500 plus the cost of suppression or by imprisonment for not more than one month or both (M.G.L. c. 42, §13).

Massachusetts General Laws c. 111, § 142 A-E and 310 CMR 7.07 as well as 527 CMR 10.22 regulate all open burning activities. as well as 527 CMR 10.22 regulate all open burning activities.

A PERMIT IS REQUIRED

·       See above for permit details.

WHEN YOU CAN BURN

·        Open ail burning is permitted by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts only between January 15 and May 1.  May 1 is the last day.

·        Between the hours of 10 AM and 4 PM.  All fires MUST be extinguished by 4 PM.

·        Open air burning may be denied because of weather conditions.

WHAT YOU CAN BURN

·       Brush up to 4 inches in diameter, Cane and Forest Debris ONLY.

WHAT YOU CAN NOT BURN

·       Construction materials and old buildings.

·       Leaves, grass, hay, stumps, rubbish, or brush greater than 4” in diameter

·       Commercial and/or industrial land clearing operation debris.

WHERE YOU CAN BURN

·       A minimum of 75 feet from any building.

·       On the land closest to the source of the material.

WHILE BURNING

·       An adult must attend to the fire at all times until completely extinguished.

·       A water supply, capable of extinguishing the fire, must be readily available.

You are responsible for your fire.  Whoever violates any provision of this section shall be punished by a fine of not more than $500 plus the cost of suppression or by imprisonment for not more than one month or both (M.G.L. c. 48 §13)