Burning Ordinances

CONTROLLED BURNS

A reminder that there are burning ordinances for Kutztown Borough, Maxatawny Township, and Greenwich Township. Please click here to review those ordinances.  Maxatawny Township requires a request for a Controlled Burn Permit be made to the Fire Department at least 24 hours in advance. Your request must then be approved and a permit issued by the Fire Department for your controlled burn. A violation of this ordinance can result in fines. 

Kutztown Borough

Kutztown Borough Code, §168-9 Burning: 

A. No person shall:
    (1)  Ignite or feed an open fire for the destruction of refuse, the conduct of a salvage operation or any other purpose on any property.
    (2)  Cause, suffer, allow, or permit the maintenance of any open fire for the destruction of refuse, the conduct of a salvage operation or any other purpose on any property under his control; or
    (3)  Make any bonfire or bonfires or set fire to any wood shavings, paper, hay, straw or any other inflammable substance on any street or sidewalk or public or private property unless approval for such bonfire or bonfires is granted by Borough Council upon recommendation of the Code Enforcement Officer and/or the Fire Chief of the Kutztown Fire Company No. 1.

B. The following are exceptions to the previously mentioned provisions of Subsection A of this section:

    (1)  Open fires may be set as provided for in Subsection B(2) of this section in the performance of an official duty of any public officer if the fire is necessary for:
        (a)  The prevention of a fire hazard which cannot be abated by other means.
        (b)  The protection of public health.
    (2)  Open fires may be set with the approval of the Code Enforcement Officer and the Fire Chief of Kutztown Fire & Rescue, provided that:
        (a)  There is no practical or available alternate method for the disposal of the material to be burned; and
        (b)  No hazardous or other objectionable condition will be created by such burning.

You may click here to be taken to the online version of the Kutztown Borough Code where you may browse through all of the borough ordinances.

Maxatawny Township

Ordinance 2006-1

The burning ordinance of Maxatawny Township is very detailed and complex. In short, burning cleared brush (as is defined in the Ordinance) requires a request to the Fire Department for a permit to be made at least 24 hours in advance. The Fire Department may then approve the request and issue a permit based on weather forecasts as well as current and predicted fire conditions. That permit will then be on-file at the Fire Department and is only valid for the times stated. Click here to be taken to a PDF version of the ordinance.  Please be mindful of which classification of burning you are planning, as the rules are different for each. Also, please notice the requirements for burning and specifications of the approved burn barrel by the Township.

Greenwich Township

We are unaware of any specific burning ordinance by Greenwich Township; therefore, you must follow all rules and regulations set by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). Click here to be taken to their website.

CONTROLLED BURNING PERMIT REQUEST