Chester County, PA Outdoor Cooking: BBQ & Propane Rules (2026)

There is no Chester County ordinance regulating backyard barbecues. State air-quality rule 25 Pa Code 129.14 expressly allows 'a fire set solely for cooking food,' so charcoal and propane grilling at a home is lawful. Fire safety follows the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code (34 Pa Code), which adopts the International Fire Code. Under the IFC's open-flame cooking provision, charcoal burners and other open-flame cooking devices, and LP-gas cooking devices with cylinders over the code limit, generally may not be operated or stored on combustible balconies or within 10 feet of combustible construction at multifamily (Group R) buildings, with exceptions for one- and two-family dwellings and sprinklered buildings.