Lower Merion, PA Fire Regulations: Fire Pits & Backyard Fires (2026)

Section 78-13.B of the Township Code permits a bonfire, campfire or other unencased recreational fire only under conditions the Chief Fire Officer sets. A permit is required before any such burning, and an application fee is charged; the Chief Fire Officer or a designated representative must inspect the property first and designate only those areas suitable for safety and health. That safe area must be no less than 50 feet from a combustible structure, 50 feet from the street, and 25 feet from the property line, per Section 78-13.B(1).

The permit is valid only for the period stated on it. While burning, a competent adult must constantly attend the fire, and a water hose connected to an operable faucet, or equipment able to cover the fire with earth, must be kept immediately ready to extinguish it, per Section 78-13.B(2). Section 78-13.B(3) bars burning during high winds, drought, weather inversions, or any other condition the Chief Fire Officer deems hazardous. Because the general open burning ban in Section 78-13.A otherwise covers rubbish, leaves and yard debris, this permit track applies specifically to recreational fires like bonfires and campfires rather than debris disposal.