Burn bans in Maine
Maine has no county-declared burn bans. Nearly every out-of-door fire requires an individual permit from a local Town Fire Warden or forest ranger (obtained online at maineburnpermit.com), and the Maine Forest Service publishes a daily fire-danger class for each of the state's 12 Fire Weather Zones that wardens use to decide whether to grant permits that day. When conditions turn severe, MFS has, on record, enacted a statewide burn permit moratorium rather than a county-by-county order — most recently in August 2025 during High to Very High danger.
The Maine Forest Service publishes one fire-danger class per zone each day. Town Fire Wardens use that class to decide whether to issue burn permits that day — the class itself isn't a standing order, and can change daily.
12 zones cover Maine's 16 counties, and 15 of those counties fall across more than one. Where a county spans more than one zone, we show the most restrictive zone's status, and list every zone below with its own class.
Every Fire Weather Zone in Maine
This is the level Maine Forest Service — Wildfire Danger Report actually publishes. Each area's wording below is the agency's own.
| zone | Status | Level published | Effective |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fire Weather Zone 1 Maine Forest Service | No Restrictions | Low | — |
| Fire Weather Zone 10 Maine Forest Service | No Restrictions | Moderate | — |
| Fire Weather Zone 11 Maine Forest Service | No Restrictions | Moderate | — |
| Fire Weather Zone 12 Maine Forest Service | No Restrictions | Moderate | — |
| Fire Weather Zone 2 Maine Forest Service | No Restrictions | Low | — |
| Fire Weather Zone 3 Maine Forest Service | No Restrictions | Low | — |
| Fire Weather Zone 4 Maine Forest Service | No Restrictions | Low | — |
| Fire Weather Zone 5 Maine Forest Service | No Restrictions | Low | — |
| Fire Weather Zone 6 Maine Forest Service | No Restrictions | Low | — |
| Fire Weather Zone 7 Maine Forest Service | No Restrictions | Low | — |
| Fire Weather Zone 8 Maine Forest Service | No Restrictions | Low | — |
| Fire Weather Zone 9 Maine Forest Service | No Restrictions | Moderate | — |
All counties in Maine
A county's status is the most restrictive of the zones covering it. Open a county to see each area separately.
| county | Status | zones covering it | Since |
|---|---|---|---|
| Androscoggin | No Restrictions | Fire Weather Zone 7, Fire Weather Zone 9, Fire Weather Zone 10 | Aug 16, 2026 |
| Aroostook | No Restrictions | Fire Weather Zone 2, Fire Weather Zone 3, Fire Weather Zone 1, Fire Weather Zone 6 | Aug 16, 2026 |
| Cumberland | No Restrictions | Fire Weather Zone 9, Fire Weather Zone 10 | Aug 16, 2026 |
| Franklin | No Restrictions | Fire Weather Zone 4, Fire Weather Zone 7 | Aug 16, 2026 |
| Hancock | No Restrictions | Fire Weather Zone 11, Fire Weather Zone 12, Fire Weather Zone 6, Fire Weather Zone 8, Fire Weather Zone 7 | Aug 16, 2026 |
| Kennebec | No Restrictions | Fire Weather Zone 7 | Aug 16, 2026 |
| Knox | No Restrictions | Fire Weather Zone 11, Fire Weather Zone 7 | Aug 16, 2026 |
| Lincoln | No Restrictions | Fire Weather Zone 10, Fire Weather Zone 7, Fire Weather Zone 11 | Aug 16, 2026 |
| Oxford | No Restrictions | Fire Weather Zone 4, Fire Weather Zone 9, Fire Weather Zone 7 | Aug 16, 2026 |
| Penobscot | No Restrictions | Fire Weather Zone 6, Fire Weather Zone 7, Fire Weather Zone 5, Fire Weather Zone 3, Fire Weather Zone 2 | Aug 16, 2026 |
| Piscataquis | No Restrictions | Fire Weather Zone 5, Fire Weather Zone 2, Fire Weather Zone 6 | Aug 16, 2026 |
| Sagadahoc | No Restrictions | Fire Weather Zone 10, Fire Weather Zone 7 | Aug 16, 2026 |
| Somerset | No Restrictions | Fire Weather Zone 4, Fire Weather Zone 1, Fire Weather Zone 2, Fire Weather Zone 7, Fire Weather Zone 5 | Aug 16, 2026 |
| Waldo | No Restrictions | Fire Weather Zone 7, Fire Weather Zone 11 | Aug 16, 2026 |
| Washington | No Restrictions | Fire Weather Zone 6, Fire Weather Zone 12, Fire Weather Zone 8 | Aug 16, 2026 |
| York | No Restrictions | Fire Weather Zone 9, Fire Weather Zone 10 | Aug 16, 2026 |
Maine sets daily fire danger by Fire Weather Zone, not by county
Low / Moderate / High / Very High / Extreme
The National Fire Danger Rating System scale MFS uses daily. Permits are generally issued freely at Low and Moderate; MFS's own advisories and documented burn-permit moratoriums have historically begun at High and Very High.
A permit is still required either way
Even on a Low-danger day, out-of-door burning in Maine needs an individual permit from your Town Fire Warden. The daily class changes what a warden is willing to approve — it does not remove the permit requirement itself.
Statewide moratoriums, not county bans
When conditions are severe enough, MFS has suspended new burn permits statewide (most recently August 2025) rather than declaring bans county by county. Always check current conditions the day of your burn, not just this page.
How Maine decides
- Maine has 16 counties and 12 Fire Weather Zones — the zone, not the county, is what the state actually rates.
- The Wildfire Danger Report only runs during Maine's wildfire season, late March through late November.
- Burning without a permit — or violating one's stated conditions — is a Class E crime, not just a fine-only infraction.
- MFS has enacted statewide burn permit moratoriums during severe conditions rather than issuing county-level bans.
Penalties in Maine
Under 12 M.R.S. § 9321, out-of-door burning without a required permit, or in violation of a permit's stated conditions, is a Class E crime — Maine's lowest felony-adjacent tier, punishable under 17-A M.R.S. §§ 1252 and 1704 by up to 6 months in jail and a fine of up to $1,000. If the fire causes fire-suppression costs to a municipality or the state, a court can additionally order restitution of up to $25,000 to a single municipality, or up to $125,000 combined across municipal and state government.
Classification: Class E crime · Maximum fine: up to $1,000, up to 6 months in jail, plus restitution up to $25,000 (municipality) / $125,000 (combined) for suppression costs
Getting a burn permit in Maine
Year-round for any out-of-door fire larger than 3'x3' (as of October 2023), except when the ground is snow-covered.
Town Fire Warden, or a Forest Ranger in unorganized territory
Free — the $7 online fee was eliminated in 2021
If a ban or restriction is active: An already-issued online permit becomes void the moment the daily fire-danger class rises to High, Very High, or Extreme, even if you obtained it earlier that same day — always recheck before lighting.
Common questions about Maine burn bans
Is there a burn ban in Maine right now?
No county-level burn ban is currently reported by Maine Forest Service — Wildfire Danger Report for Maine. Municipal rules within a county may still apply.
How does Maine issue a burn ban?
Maine has no county-declared burn bans. Nearly every out-of-door fire requires an individual permit from a local Town Fire Warden or forest ranger (obtained online at maineburnpermit.com), and the Maine Forest Service publishes a daily fire-danger class for each of the state's 12 Fire Weather Zones that wardens use to decide whether to grant permits that day. When conditions turn severe, MFS has, on record, enacted a statewide burn permit moratorium rather than a county-by-county order — most recently in August 2025 during High to Very High danger.
How long does a burn ban last in Maine?
Maine's statutory rule applies during a fixed calendar window each year. Governor emergency orders can extend or expand restrictions and are reflected here within one business day of publication.
What are the penalties for violating a burn ban in Maine?
Under 12 M.R.S. § 9321, out-of-door burning without a required permit, or in violation of a permit's stated conditions, is a Class E crime — Maine's lowest felony-adjacent tier, punishable under 17-A M.R.S. §§ 1252 and 1704 by up to 6 months in jail and a fine of up to $1,000. If the fire causes fire-suppression costs to a municipality or the state, a court can additionally order restitution of up to $25,000 to a single municipality, or up to $125,000 combined across municipal and state government.
burnbanradar reports the counties-level orders as published by Maine Forest Service — Wildfire Danger Report. Municipal ordinances may impose stricter rules. When Maine Forest Service — Wildfire Danger Report does not list a county, that does not mean no ban exists — verify with the county office. The published order governs.