Frequently Asked Questions

The Orange Municipal Airport is proud to have multiple organizations and companies based on site. 

Aero Care Inc and Round Power Aviation are aircraft maintenance facilities, repairing aircraft and inspecting them for safety. Other companies here at the airport are 37 Design Group, a graphic design company, and the North Quabbin Dog Park. Also based at the airport is Jumptown, the largest parachute training facility in the northeast, and the Athol Orange Aero Club which is the longest operating aeroclub in the country. 

The airport is proud to host the Orange Recreation Association Youth Soccer Programs. The airport also hosts several large events, including the Central Massachusetts Steam and Gas Machinery Association Show the last full weekend in June, Christmas in July Celebration and Celebrate the Harvest Festival & Car Show in October. 

The Orange Municipal Airport provides 147 local jobs with an annual payroll of 4.9 million dollars and economic output of just over $11 million, putting the town owned airport in the top 10 in the state of Massachusetts. 

Some of our typical facility users include Boston Med Flight, Net Jets Charter, and Massachusetts State Police. In the Massachusetts Statewide Airport Economic Impact Study of 2019, Orange Municipal Airport was identified as "destination airport" because of several factors. Providing multiple fueling options, rental cars, catering, and lodging accommodations attracts more than 30,000 annual aircraft operations in both general aviation and corporate air traffic to our facility.

There are two runways here at Orange Municipal Airport. 

• Runway 14/32 is 4801 ft long and 75 ft wide.
• Runway 01/19 is 5001ft long and 75 ft wide.

View our Online Permitting Instructions (PDF) to find out what you need to apply online.

Water and Sewer Bills are sent out by section. Your section can be found on your Water Bill as the first number of your account. See images below for billing dates and an account example:

Call the Collector's office at 978-544-1100, ext. 300 to check the status of your taxes.

You can also email the Collector or the Assistant Collector at collector@townoforange.org or asstcollector@townoforange.org 

Keep in mind that this office has a large number of walk ins, if you do not get through on the phone, please leave a message with the information needed and a contact for a call back, or try emailing.

Here's how to use the facility:

1. Drive to the facility and come into the office with your vehicle registration and fill out an application to purchase a permit ($40 for a residential permit, $65 for a commercial/landlord permit and $70.00 for a non-resident permit, no haulers). Permits expire on June 30^th of each year regardless of the purchase date.
2. Purchase Town of Orange trash bags for all of your household trash ($3.00 each).
3. When you get to your vehicle remove any old permits and attach your new permit ONLY to the lower left-hand corner of your windshield (opposite your inspection sticker) to be valid and to be allowed entry.
4. Drive to the parking lot located behind the building, stopping at the corner and waiting for an open parking spot if none are available. Once you can proceed, pull through to the forward most available spot.
5. Using the map included on this page, you can find where to go for whatever you may have to dispose of. If you have an item that has a required fee or any questions that you can’t find a sign to explain the proper disposal or recycling requirements, please ask an attendant to further assist you.

Review our price brochure (JPG) to see service fees. 

We accept and recycle at no cost:

• Eyeglasses (Lion's Club)
• Cell phones
• Rechargeable batteries
• Button batteries
• Auto batteries
• Clean used motor oil
• Clothes and shoes (Planet Aid and Salvation Army)
• Mercury containing items (thermometers, thermostats and switches)
• Leaves, grass and brush under 6" in diameter (No lawn or tree businesses accepted.)
• Spent Cooking Oil

For the safety of all, please dispose of your needles / sharps responsibly. Free containers for these items are available at the Orange Board of Health and at the Recycling Center / Transfer Station.

Please return filled containers to the Orange Board of Health located at:

62 Cheney Street
Orange, MA 01364

For more information, call 978-544-1107.

View a full list of disposal items/options from the Franklin County Solid Waste Management District.

Download and view a list of recyclables (JPG).

You need to file with the Conservation Commission whenever work is proposed within 100 feet of a wetland or 200 feet of a perennial stream.

Removal, filling, dredging, grading, building, landscaping in a wetland area is prohibited without a permitting process.

A "Request For Determination Of Applicability" should be used for simple projects that will not alter or impact the wetland or resource area. Major projects such as building, landscaping, commercial developments require a "Notice Of Intent."

Massachusetts Chapter 61 laws reduce property taxes on farmland, forest, or open space in exchange for a commitment from the landowner to keep the land undeveloped. While Chapter 61 in itself does not permanently protect the land, it maintains open space and is often a first step towards more permanent conservation. For more information see the Mount Grace Land Conservation Trust.

For more information on why Wetlands are important, visit the Wetlands and Nature page of the Environmental Protection Agency website.

The MA Wetlands Protection Act and Regulations and local Wetlands Bylaw include a number of different types of wetlands, and wetland-related areas called "Resource Areas". These include rivers and streams ("perennial" if they run year round, and "intermittent" if they dry up seasonally); lakes and ponds; the vegetated wet areas bordering rivers, streams, lakes or ponds ("bordering vegetated wetlands"); the 100-year floodplain along rivers and streams; and isolated areas that flood seasonally, such as vernal pools. The first 200 feet from the edge of a perennial stream are regulated as "riverfront area". The first 100 feet from a vegetated wetland or stream bank are regulated as "buffer zone".

Most people can recognize a marsh with cattails and standing water as a wetland, but many wetlands are harder for the average person to recognize. By law, the edge of vegetated wetlands is determined by looking at the species of plants that grow there, the soils, and evidence of hydrology. Certain plant species are adapted to grow in wet areas. Soils show if the area has water near the surface at least part of the year. Evidence of hydrology includes ponding, sphagnum moss, flood water lines and debris, and physical adaptations made by plants to wet growing conditions.

To determine if you need to come before the Planning Board, first email the Building Commissioner,. He will determine if zoning regulations require any special permits, site plan permits, or other actions before the Planning Board

• If zoning regulations indicate you do not require permits from the Planning Board, he will assist you in the next steps with the Building Department process to get your project under way.
• If zoning regulations indicate you do require permits with the Planning Board, please email the Planning Board to begin the next steps in getting your project going.

If you need an ANR or sudvision approval, please email the Planning Board.

And lastly, if you are looking to investigate economic development opportunities in Orange, our Community Development office would be happy to speak with you. They can be reached via email.

Thank you for your interest in Orange for your business or project! We look forward to working with you!