Recreational Fires

One of our most frequently asked questions is about open burning and recreational fires. There are ordinances in place for both Bethel Park and Allegheny County.

The ordinance in Bethel Park is Municipality of Bethel Park Ordinance 33.13 Open Burning (Added 8-8-2022 by Ord. No. 8-8-22). For more information and the full text of the ordinance, please visit the Municipality eCode website.

The ordinance in Allegheny County is Allegheny County Health Department Rules and Regulations Article XXI, Air Pollution Control, §2105.50 Open Burning {Subsection f amended May 8, 2007, effective, August 17, 2007, and amended July 16, 2009, effective July 26, 2009. Subsections a, b, and d amended, and Subsections e and f renumbered, November 13, 2014, effective January 1, 2015.} For more information and the full text of the ordinance, please visit the Allegheny County Health Department’s Burning Central website.

Below is a summarized version of what is needed to comply with both ordinances:

No material other than clean wood, propane or natural gas may be burned EXCEPT for:

  • Commercially available fire logs, paraffin logs, or wood pellets may be used in outdoor fireplaces./li>
  • Paper or commercial smokeless fire starters in order to start an allowed fire.
  • Charcoal used in an outdoor fireplace or grill for the purpose of cooking.

Fires may be no larger than 3′ wide by 3′ long by 2′ high.

Fires must be at least 15 feet from the nearest neighbor’s dwelling or inhabited area, any property lines, roadway, sidewalk or public access way.

Wood burning activities are prohibited on Air Quality Action days, except when burning for the commercial preparation of food.

Burning may be prohibited, stopped, or reduced based on, but not limited to, the following criteria:

  • Is emitting excessive smoke, excessive odor, or malodorous emissions;
  • Contains prohibited materials or is using a prohibited or inadequate containment device or mechanism;
  • Is in a prohibited location or of a prohibited size;
  • Is emitting sparks or hot ashes that may pose a threat to nearby structures, trees, other combustible materials, or to the safety of persons or property;
  • Where its size, materials, containment, location, emissions, proximity to structures, trees, other combustible materials, conduct of participants, weather conditions (including but not limited to, wind, drought, dry or other conditions) or air quality, or other circumstances, are such that continuation of the fire poses a risk of harm to persons or property;
  • The duration or frequency of open burning;
  • The topography of the surroundings;
  • The meteorological conditions;

For those wishing to report issues, please call the Bethel Park Police Dispatch center at 412-833-2000