Fire Permits
Open Burning Permit
When obtaining a permit, be prepared to show a photo ID, such as a drivers license. Permits can be obtained at the following locations during normal business hours:
- Meredith Fire Department — 286 Daniel Webster Highway
- Meredith Town Clerk Office — 41 Main Street
- Y-Landing Marine Services — 108 Powers Road
Permits are now available online! Please go to the New Hampshire Division of Forests and Lands' Online Burn Permitting System website to apply online.
*Please Note: The online permits are available for your convenience, and there is a small fee ($3.00) which is used to maintain the online program. The Town of Meredith nor the Meredith Fire Department receive these fees.
Woodland Fire Control Laws
227-L:17 Permits; Damages; Penalties. —
Every person, firm, or corporation who wishes to burn clean, ordinary combustibles such as leaves, brush or untreated lumber, or have a camp or cooking fire must have written permission from the landowner and a fire permit from the local forest fire warden or local fire department in the town or city where the fire will be kindled. You must be at least 18 years of age to obtain a written fire permit.
Campgrounds or picnic grounds, regardless of whether they are public or privately owned, must obtain an annual written fire permit from the town forest fire warden for use of outside fireplaces, camp or cooking fires used in the operation of the camp or picnic grounds. Such camp or cooking fires should:
- Be in an area cleaned to mineral soil at least 8 feet across;
- Have at least 6 inches of sand or gravel under the fire for any fire built on the ground;
- Have no limbs or other burnable material to a height of 10 feet above the fireplace area; and
- Be constructed so they cannot be moved from their mineral soil area.
Fire Permit Categories
Category I, II, III, IV
Category I,II, & III fires may be kindled only with written permission of the landowner or the landowner's agent and a written fire permit issued by the Forest Fire Warden, or the Warden's authorized agent in the town or city where the fire will be kindled.
Category IV fires may be kindled only with the written permission of the landowner or landowner's agent and a written fire permit issued by the Forest Ranger and Forest Fire Warden, or the Warden's authorized agent in the town or city where the fire will be kindled.
A gas grill or charcoal fire in a container up and off the ground kindled by the landowner or with the landowners permission does not require a written permit.
It should be kept in mind, even with a valid permit, under State law, any damage caused as a result of a kindled fire becomes the obligation of the party responsible for kindling the fire; including the cost of suppression.
Please review our Frequently Asked Questions page for more information about Open Burning Permits.