The Commissioners of York County established a temporary 30-day county-wide ban on any and all open burning. This burn ban shall supersede any municipal ordinance to the contrary.
Open burning is hereby defined as the ignition and subsequent burning of any combustible material (garbage, leaves, grass, twigs, litter, paper, vegetative material involved with land clearing or any sort of debris) out-of-doors either in a burn barrel (screened or unscreened), in a backyard fire pit, or on the ground. The use of propane or gas stoves, charcoal briquette grills, or the use of tobacco in any form is not prohibited by this resolution. All fireworks are prohibited under this burn ban, unless approved through written authorization by the municipality having jurisdiction. Campfires, in designated state, federal, or Department of Environmental Protection licensed campgrounds, are allowed in fire rings that confine and contain the campfire.
Enforcement of this ban shall be the responsibility of any sworn police officer, in accordance with the provisions of Act 1995-52. Specifically, any sworn police officer, when available, including the Pennsylvania State Police, shall be responsible for enforcing the provisions of this resolution. Also, whenever a violation of this resolution occurs in a city, borough, incorporated town or township, which has in effect an ordinance prohibiting open burning, the police officer may cite the violation under either the municipal ordinance or the county resolution. Under no circumstances shall any person be cited for violations of both the county resolution and the municipal ordinance for the same violation.
A person who violates this resolution commits a summary offense and shall, upon conviction, be sentenced to a fine of not more than $100.00 for the first offense, $200.00 for the second offense and $300.00 for the third and subsequent offense.
Last modified: October 31, 2024
