Berks County, PA Fire Regulations: Outdoor Burning (2026)
Outdoor burning rules in Berks 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 open burning
- County burn ban
- Commissioners' resolution, ~30 days
- Prohibited
- Leaves, debris, burn barrels
- Exempt during ban
- Ag ops, grills, campground fires
- Penalty
- Summary offense, progressive fines
Summary
Open burning of leaves, brush, garbage and debris is regulated by PA DEP (25 Pa Code §129.14) and your municipality. Berks County Commissioners can and do impose countywide burn bans during dry spells, prohibiting nearly all outdoor burning except grilling and licensed campground fires.
The ban disallows the burning of garbage, leaves, grass, twigs, litter, paper, vegetative matter involved with land clearing, or any sort of debris out-of-doors, either in a burn barrel or on the ground. The county-issued burn ban includes exceptions for normal Agricultural Operations and Agricultural-related Business Operations.
Full Breakdown
Under 25 Pa Code §129.14, open burning of material is prohibited in Pennsylvania's air basins, with limited exceptions (recreational/ceremonial fires, cooking, agriculture). Many Berks municipalities in the Reading air basin (Reading, Wyomissing, Muhlenberg, Cumru, Spring and others) fall under stricter open-burning limits. When conditions are dry, the Berks County Board of Commissioners activates a countywide burn ban by resolution: it 'disallows the burning of garbage, leaves, grass, twigs, litter, paper, vegetative matter... or any sort of debris out-of-doors, either in a burn barrel or on the ground,' with exceptions for agriculture, propane/charcoal grills, and campfires in licensed campground rings.
Violations & Fines
Burn-ban violations are a summary offense enforceable by law enforcement, with progressive fines for repeated violations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I burn leaves in Berks County?
Who issues a Berks County burn ban?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Berks County
How Berks County compares: Cities with the Strictest Outdoor Burning Rules·Compare Berks County to another location·View the Pennsylvania fire regulations overview
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