NH Outdoor Fire Permit Regulations

When Is a Permit Required?

• State law requires a permit to be obtained before starting ANY outside fire, rain or shine. This includes the use of a chiminea, fire pit, outdoor fireplace, etc.
• Not required if there is a 100-foot radius of complete snow cover around the fire.

How to Obtain a Permit

• Online Permits: Available via the Division of Forests and Lands NH Online Fire Permitting System. Permits require a credit card and must be printed and signed to be valid.
• Fees: Online permit fees are paid directly to the NHDFL. The Town of Surry neither collects nor manages these fees.

Fire Categories

• Category I Fire – means a small controlled fire, such as a camp or cooking fire, no greater than 2 feet in diameter, contained within a ring of fire-resistant material or in a portable fireplace, except for public & private campgrounds or picnic sites, located at least 25 feet from structures.

A Category I fire, conditions permitting, may be kindled with a permit at any time or day, whether raining or not.

• Category II Fire – means a controlled fire, such as a camp or cooking fire, no greater than 4 feet in diameter, contained within a ring of fire-resistant material or in a portable fireplace and located at least 50 feet from structures.

A Category II fire, conditions permitting, may be kindled with a permit only between the hours of 5:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m. unless it is actually raining.

• Category III Fire – means any other fire, not a Category I or Category II fire, or a fire greater than 4 feet in diameter, or a fire not contained within a ring of resistive material and located at least 50 feet from structures.

A Category III fire, conditions permitting, may be kindled with a permit only between the hours of 5:00p.m. and 9:00a.m. unless it is actually raining. Category III permits may be issued for up to 7 days.

Seasonal Permits

• Issued Online Only for small campfires (Category I or II) and brush fires (Category III).
• Brush piles cannot be burned under a seasonal permit.

Who Can Burn?

• Property owners.
• Designees with written permission from the owner.  If you are not the landowner, use the Permit Authorization Form  to get permission from the landowner.

What Not to Burn

• Only burning of untreated wood, untreated pallets, campfire wood, brush, or charcoal is allowed.
• Wood can be no greater than 5 inches in diameter.
• Construction or demolition materials shall not be burned.
• The NH Department of Environmental Services has published this quick guide to explain what is allowed to be burned .

Additional Rules

• Permit holder must be 18 or older and the property owner or designee with written approval.
• Fires must be constantly attended until “completely extinguished”(no heat, smoke, or flame). The term does not include a buried fire.
• Knowing how to put out a campfire  is your responsibility when you burn.

Penalty for Burning without a Fire Permit

• Any person violating any provision of the section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and any person who causes or kindles a fire by any means, willfully or recklessly, which shall endanger a woodland shall be guilty of a misdemeanor if a natural person, or guilty of a felony if any other person. A written fire permit shall be Summarily Suspended and an Official Notice or Summons may be issued for violation of the rules or laws.In addition, Any person, firm or corporation causing or kindling a fire without a permit, when a permit is required, and also any person by whose negligence or the negligence of his agents any fire shall cause, is liable to the town for all expenses incurred in attending or extinguishing such fire. If fire escapes from control you may be held liable for:
  1. Payment of damage to property of another;
  2. Payment of suppression costs to the town;
  3. Prosecution for failure to comply with regulations.

For More Information

• Please visit the New Hampshire Forests & Lands website using the following link: Fire Permits