Small backyard recreational fires are allowed under state air rules (25 Pa Code §129.14 exempts fires 'solely for recreational or ceremonial purposes'), but your Berks municipality sets container, size, and setback limits, and all such fires stop during a county burn ban.
A backyard campfire or chiminea is treated as a recreational fire, which 25 Pa Code §129.14 expressly excepts from Pennsylvania's open-burning prohibition. The county issues no permit; your municipality controls the details. Berks townships commonly require fires in an approved container or ring, cap pile size, and set minimum distances from buildings and property lines (Exeter Township, for example: 15 ft from a structure for container fires, 25 ft for small piles, 7 ft from a property line). Burning household trash or leaves in the yard is not a 'recreational fire' and is generally prohibited. During a county burn ban, campfires are permitted only in licensed campground fire rings.
Improper backyard burning is a municipal summary offense; during a county burn ban, progressive fines apply for repeat violations.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Reading, PA
Every swimming pool in Reading must be enclosed by a permanent barrier or fence at least four feet in height with no opening larger than four inches, and the...
Reading, PA
Reading Zoning Code § 600-1304 bans barbed-wire fences in residential settings, electrically-charged fences (except invisible pet fences), broken glass affix...
Reading, PA
Reading's zoning code does not require neighbor consent for a boundary fence under § 600-1301, but Pennsylvania's partition-fence statute (53 P.S. § 46202) a...
Reading, PA
Reading Zoning Code § 600-1301 requires a permit from the Zoning Administrator for any fence, wall, or similar structure greater than three feet in height. F...
Reading, PA
Reading Code Section 141-220 effectively caps a household at six dogs and/or cats combined. Owning more than six requires a permit from the Reading Animal Co...
Reading, PA
Backyard composting in Reading is permitted and encouraged. The City participates in the Pennsylvania Act 101 (Municipal Waste Planning, Recycling and Waste ...
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