Every beach in Maine has a different regulation when it comes to allowing bonfires. Some Maine beaches do not allow them at all, but the beaches that do usually require a permit and a regulation on the size of the fire. Large-scale bonfires, such as those for festivals and events, cannot be legally performed without the supervision and approval of the town and the fire department. Check with the beach you are going to so you will know what you need to do for approval.
Once you have obtained a burning permit for York Beach, Maine, you are permitted to have "recreational campfires and fires in conjunction with holiday and festive celebrations," according to the York Fire Department website. Certain materials are prohibited to burn on York Beach, including rubber, plastic and Styrofoam products, metal, chemicals, trash, as well as tree clippings, leaves and brush.
Fires can be burned at the Seapoint of Crescent beaches in Kittery, Maine, if they are burned in "suitable facilities" provided, such as fire pits, and if a proper permit has been obtained. Burning of rubber, trash and chemicals is prohibited. The people who get the permit are responsible for making sure that the fire is completely extinguished before leaving it unsupervised.
The only beach in Wells, Maine, allowing fires is Moody Beach. Permits are issued to private property owners or those having a Maine Forestry Service fire permit, which is to be signed by the owner. The permit is valid only for the hours of 5 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. Special permits can be obtained for larger events and functions that may include a bonfire, but the town of Wells must approve these events before a burning permit is given.
Fires on Biddeford Beach must be kept within a metal container; therefore, large bonfires are not permitted with the general burning permit that you obtain to set a beach fire. There are no fires permitted after midnight and fires must be at least 100 feet away from any area designated as a bird nesting site.
