Chester County, PA Fire Regulations: Fire Pits & Backyard Fires (2026)

There is no Chester County fire-pit ordinance. Land use and fire regulation in Pennsylvania fall to boroughs, cities, and townships under the Municipalities Planning Code (Act 247 of 1968), and building/fire safety is governed by the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code (34 Pa Code Chapters 401-405), which adopts the International Codes including the International Fire Code. State air-quality rules at 25 Pa Code 129.14 expressly permit 'a fire set solely for recreational or ceremonial purposes' and 'a fire set solely for cooking food,' so a backyard fire pit is generally allowed unless the local municipality restricts it. Many Chester County townships regulate fire-pit size, fuel, setbacks from property lines and structures, and require the fire be attended and extinguishable.