Rainwater laws / Pennsylvania
Is it legal to collect rainwater in Pennsylvania?
Checked at Pennsylvania's own statutes and agencies, November 2026. Not legal advice.
Allowed
Yes. We found no Pennsylvania law limiting it, and DEP encourages rain barrels as part of stormwater management.
Before you buy a big tank
State law is only one layer. Cities and counties can set their own rules, especially for tanks plumbed into the house, and an HOA can limit where a barrel sits. Drinking rainwater needs treatment everywhere. For a barrel or two on a downspout for the garden, the state rule above is usually the one that matters.
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