Sefer HaChinuch ספר החינוך

To not sacrifice the Pesach sacrifice on the bamah (altar) of an individual: That we were prevented from sacrificing the Pesach lamb on the bamah of an individual, and even during the time that [a bamah was] permissible. And the matter of the bamah is that before the building of the Choice House, each and every individual from Israel who wanted to offer a sacrifice would build an edifice in any place he wanted and offer his sacrifices there to God, may He be blessed. And even at that time when it was permitted for them to do so, [that was] specifically with the other sacrifices. But we always only offer the Pesach sacrifice on the community altar, and that is the place where there was the tabernacle there. And about this is it stated (Deuteronomy 16:5), “You may not slaughter the Pesach in one of your gates.” And likewise they, may their memory be blessed, said at the end of the first chapter of Megillah 9b, “There is no difference between a large (communal) bamah and a small (private) bamah besides Pesach sacrifices.”

It is from the roots of the commandment [that it is] to fix the greatness of the matter of the Pesach [sacrifice] and the preciousness of the commandment in our souls, from the reason that I wrote many times about it. And in truth, there is more glory for the commandment when they would do it all together in a specific place, and not each and every individual in the area he desires.

The laws of the commandment are in the first chapter of Megillah.

And this prohibition is practiced at the time of the [Temple] — as then do we offer the Pesach sacrifice — by males and females, as [females] are also obligated in the Pesach sacrifice, and as I wrote on the commandment of the Pesach in the Order of Bo, on [Commandment] 5. And it is possible to say that even at this time, one who transgresses and consecrates a lamb as a Pesach and offers it on a private bamah has violated this negative commandment and is liable for lashes.