Bethlehem, PA Fire Regulations: Outdoor Burning (2026)
Outdoor burning rules in Bethlehem, PA, also called the burn ban, open burning, or fire restriction ordinance, set when you can burn yard waste, debris, or run a recreational fire.
Key Facts
- Setback
- 50 ft from any structure
- Reduced distance
- 25 ft only if approved
- Attendance
- Constant watch, plus 1-hr fire watch after
- Enforcing agency
- Bureau of Inspections Fire Code Official
- Penalty
- Up to $5,000, or $10,000/90 days
- Governing law
- Art. 1501, Ord. 2022-15 (8/2/2022)
Summary
Bethlehem enforces its own version of the fire code's open-burning rule: any fire kindled outdoors must stay at least 50 feet from a structure, with the fire prevented from spreading within that distance too. The city's amendment stripped the old small-pile exception, leaving only a fire-code-official-approved 25-foot reduction. The Bureau of Inspections' Fire Marshal enforces it under Article 1501.
(q) §307.4 of the IFC which presently reads as follows: 307.4 Location. The location for open burning shall not be less than 50 feet (15,240 mm) from any structure, and provisions shall be made to prevent the fire from spreading to within 50 feet (15,240 mm) of any structure. Exceptions: 1. Fires in approved containers that are not less than 15 feet (4,572 mm) from a structure. 2. The minimum required distance from a structure shall be 25 feet (7,620 mm) where the pile size is 3 feet (914 mm) or less in diameter and 2 feet (610 mm) or less in height. shall be amended to read as follows: 307.4 Location. The location for open burning shall not be less than 50 feet (15,240 mm) from any structure, and provisions shall be made to prevent the fire from spreading to within 50 feet (15,240 mm) of any structure. Exceptions: 1. [Reserved]. 2. The minimum required distance from a structure shall be 25 feet (7,620 mm) where approved.
Full Breakdown
01. 4, Location, which controls where outdoor open burning may occur. The rule requires open burning to stay at least 50 feet from any structure and requires that the fire not be allowed to spread within 50 feet of one either. Bethlehem deleted the base code's small-pile exception (previously allowing fires 3 feet or less across within 25 feet of a structure) and replaced it with a single fire-code-official-approved reduction to 25 feet. 5, Attendance: an open fire must be constantly attended until extinguished, and now a dedicated fire watch person must stay on the property for a minimum of one hour after the fire is out, with a 4-A rated extinguisher or equivalent (dirt, sand, a water barrel, garden hose or water truck) on hand throughout.
2 requires a permit from the Fire Code Official before any open flame, fire or burning tied to a Group A or E occupancy, or torches and similar devices used in a wildfire risk area. Article 1501 was most recently restated and re-enacted by Ordinance 2022-15, passed by City Council on August 2, 2022 and signed by the Mayor the next day, taking effect 35 days later under state law.
Violations & Fines
Violating any Article 1501 fire-code provision, including the open-burning setback, is punishable under the amended § 110.4: up to $1,000 total for the first two continual, uncorrected violations of the same subsection on a property, and up to $5,000 for the third and any later violation. Where the conduct threatens public health, safety or property, the fire code official may seek $500 to $10,000 per citation, or imprisonment up to 90 days, or both, with a new citation available for every five days a violation continues uncorrected.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far from my house can I burn leaves or debris in Bethlehem?
Does someone have to watch an open fire the whole time?
Do I need a permit to burn something outdoors?
What can the city do if I keep violating the burning rules?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Bethlehem
How Bethlehem compares: Cities with the Strictest Outdoor Burning Rules·Compare Bethlehem to another location·View the Pennsylvania fire regulations overview
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