Open Burning

Burning of any kind within North Fayette Township is strictly regulated by both Allegheny County and the Township. These regulations are designed to protect the safety of residents, prevent nuisances, and ensure environmental health. Please refer to the Burning Ordinance for detailed guidelines.

Important Guidelines for Recreational Fires

In accordance with Township regulations, open burning is not permitted in most cases. However, small recreational fires may be allowed under the following strict conditions:

• Fire Containment: Fires must be contained within a fire pit, stone perimeter, non-combustible fire ring, drum, or other approved non-combustible container.
• Fire Location: The fire must be at least 10 feet away from any structure, roadway, property line, utility, tree, or combustible material.
• Fuel Restrictions: Only smokeless fuels should be used to start the fire. Only clean burning wood and charcoal may be burned—treatments such as painted wood, plastics, leaves, green yard waste, garbage, rubber, tires, cardboard, paper, and cloth are strictly prohibited due to the harmful emissions they produce.
• Fire Size: The maximum fire size is 16 square feet (4 feet by 4 feet) and no taller than 3 feet.
• Smoke Restrictions: Excessive smoke, odors, or harmful emissions must not extend beyond the property line.
• Supervision: An adult must remain present at all times from the start of the fire until it is fully extinguished.
• Control: Adequate tools to control or extinguish the fire must be on hand while it is burning.

Enforcement and Violations

Burning enforcement is primarily handled by North Fayette Township’s Code Enforcement & Permitting Division. The Police Department, Fire Code Official, and Building Code Official are authorized to require the immediate extinguishment of any fire that does not comply with these guidelines.

Please note that violations of the open burning ordinance may result in a citation with fines of up to $1,000.