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fire Permits are required by law

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Burn permits are required by State law for all outside burining, with the exception of charcoal and gas grills used for cooking. Burn permits may be obtained in person at our 160 Main Street location during business hours, or online on the New Hampshire Department of Forest and Lands website.      


PLEASE NOTE: There is a $3.00 charge for burn permits obtained through the State website.     


There are three categories of permits, and seasonal permits are available for Category I and II only. Per department policy, Category III permits will only be issued for a maximum of three consecutive days.

Category I Fires

Category I permits are issued for cooking fires in a constructed, or commercially purchased, fire pit less than 2' in diameter where the fire is contained within a ring of fire-resistive material. These fires must be located 25' away from any structure, including but not limited to homes, sheds, barns, and fences.     


Category I fires may be kindled at any time during the day/night, provided the daily fire danger does not prohibit the kindling of fire.

Category II Fires

Category II permits are issued for camp fires in a constructed, or commercially purchased, fire pit less than 4' in diameter where the fire is contained within a ring of fire-resistive material. These fires must be located 50' away from any structure, including but not limited to homes, sheds, barns, and fences.      


Category II fires may only be kindled between the hours of 5:00 PM and 9:00 AM unless it is actively raining and provided the daily fire danger does not prohibit the kindling of fire.

Categotry III Fires

Category III permits are issued for what are commonly redferred to as bush piles. These fires are greater than 4' in diameter and contain brush or untreated and unpainted wood products that are under 5" in diameter and 5' in length. These fires must be located 50' away from any structure, including but not limited to homes, sheds, barns, and fences, and at least 10 vertical feet from any tree canopy. Category III fires may not contain any household trash, leaf debris, or other prohibited materials.     


Category III fires may only be kindled between the hours of 5:00 PM and 9:00 AM unless it is actively raining and provided the daily fire danger does not prohibit the kindling of fire.

Daily Fire Danger

There is no burning allowed within the Town of Farmington on Class IV or Class V days. To check today's fire danger, please click the button below.

Click here to check the daily fire danger

For fire weather forcasts on the weekends, call the NHDFL Automated weather line at 866-643-4737 or 603-271-2259.

NHDES Backyard Burning Quick Guide

Need a quick reference on what you can/can not burn? NHDES has published this 2 page quick guide covering what materials are permissible for burning, what materials are not permissible for burning, and a brief summary of unlawful acts.

View the backyard burning quick guide now

NH State Rules and Regulations

A written fire permit shall be Summarily Suspended if any of the following fire permit restrictions are violated, and an Official Notice or a Summons may be issued to the violator for the following:  

  • If a fire is kindled or material is burned between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. unless it is actually raining, except for category I and IV fire permits. 
  •  If a fire is kindled which is in non-conformance with the permit information provided for by RES 5601.04(b) for a category I, II, III fire or RES 5601.05(b) for a category IV fire.  
  • If a fire is kindled or material is burned during unfavorable weather conditions (wind, lack of precipitation, or other factors increasing fire hazard) or when a proclamation closing the woodlands is in force.  
  • If a fire is kindled or material is burned when specified assistance or suppression equipment is not present to control the fire. 
  •  If the permittee fails to keep the fire under control or if the Director, Division of Forests and Lands, or his authorized agents or the Forest Fire Warden determine that the material being burned is causing an unusual hazard endangering life or property.
  • If the material being burned violates any state law, rule, local ordinance or New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services rules regarding open burning. 
  •  If an open fire is left unattended at any time prior to it being completely extinguished.  
  • Except for public and private camp or picnic sites, if fires are kindled and material burned closer than 50’ from any structure and if provisions are not made to prevent a fire from spreading to within 50’ of a structure unless the fire is a category I fire in which case it shall not be closer than 25’ from any structure. 


Fire permits shall not be issued to individuals who have had more than two open burning violations, or any grievous violations, within the past 7 years.


ANY person causing or kindling a fire without a written fire permit from the Forest Fire Warden, or the Warden’s authorized agent, when such permit is required, and any person by whose negligence or the negligence of his agents any fire is caused, shall be liable in a civil action for the payment to the town, state or United States or any or all of the same of expenses incurred by the Forest Fire Warden or Deputy Warden in attending or extinguishing such fire.


ANY person violating the permit law and its provisions, and any person who willfully or recklessly kindles a fire that endangers woodlands, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine up to $2,000 and/or up to one year in jail, or both.