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

PA DEP's open-burning regulation (25 Pa. Code Sec. 129.14) exempts fires set solely for cooking food and for recreational or ceremonial purposes, so small, contained backyard recreational fires are generally permitted. However, the enforceable details, distance from structures and property lines, size limits, attendance, and what may be burned, are set by each municipality under the Municipalities Planning Code. Burning household trash or garbage is not a recreational fire and is prohibited. When the York County Commissioners declare a burn ban, all backyard fires (including fire pits and burn barrels) are banned countywide, though charcoal and propane grills remain allowed.