Lancaster County, PA Fire Regulations: Outdoor Burning (2026)
Outdoor burning rules in Lancaster County, 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
- State rule
- 25 Pa. Code §129.14 (DEP)
- County ordinance
- None countywide
- Key trigger
- Smoke/odor crossing property line
- Local control
- Municipality sets burn rules
- Exceptions
- Agriculture, cooking, domestic refuse
Summary
Pennsylvania DEP rule 25 Pa. Code §129.14 sets the baseline: open burning is barred where its smoke, odor, or emissions cross your property line and interfere with neighbors. Lancaster County has no countywide burn ordinance; residential open burning is regulated by your municipality.
No person may permit the open burning of material in an air basin. No person may permit the open burning of material in an area outside of air basins in a manner that: the emissions are visible, at any time, at the point such emissions pass outside the property.
Full Breakdown
Under 25 Pa. Code §129.14, no person may permit open burning in an air basin, and outside air basins, burning is prohibited where emissions are visible past the property line, create off-property odors, interfere with a neighbor's reasonable enjoyment, damage vegetation or property, or are deleterious to health. Limited exceptions cover fires for hazard prevention, agriculture, domestic refuse at single/duplex homes, and cooking. Land-use enforcement is municipal in PA, so many Lancaster boroughs and townships ban or restrict burning of leaves and trash: check your local ordinance for burn days, hours, and materials.
Violations & Fines
PA DEP and municipal officials enforce; violations of §129.14 can bring notices of violation and civil penalties, plus local citations and fines for prohibited materials or off-property smoke.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I burn leaves in Lancaster County, PA?
What does state law say about backyard burning?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lancaster County
How Lancaster County compares: Cities with the Strictest Outdoor Burning Rules·Compare Lancaster County to another location·View the Pennsylvania fire regulations overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.