Fire Regulations in Waukegan, IL (2026)
5 verified fire regulations for Waukegan, Illinois, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Fire Pits & Backyard Fires
Waukegan lets residents run outdoor fireplaces and fire pits without a burning permit under City Code Sec. 15-26(b), but only if the unit sits at least five feet from any property line, or ten feet if it has an embedded foundation, sits on a noncombustible surface, and burns only charcoal, gas, commercial fire logs, or seasoned firewood.
Waukegan Outdoor Fire Pit Setback Rules
Some RestrictionsWaukegan City Code § 15-26(b)
(b)The prohibition on open burning of waste within the corporate limits of the City of Waukegan found in section 10-8 herein, shall not apply to fires in outdoor fireplaces and outdoor fire pits provided that the outdoor fireplace or fire pit is operated in compliance with the following regulations:(1)A portable fireplace or fire pit shall not be operated within five feet of any property line. ...
Fireworks
Waukegan bans the sale, offer for sale, possession for sale, use, or explosion of fireworks citywide under City Code § 9-2, except for supervised public displays permitted by the fire chief. Sparklers are the only carve-out: adults 18 and older may buy, sell, or set them off freely, and minors may use them under adult supervision.
Waukegan Fireworks Sale and Use Ban
Heavy RestrictionsWaukegan, IL Code of Ordinances § 9-2(b), (d), (g)
(b)Discharge of fireworks; permits:(1)Except as hereinafter provided, no person, firm, partnership or corporation shall offer for sale, expose for sale, sell at retail, keep with intent to sell at retail, use or explode any fireworks, provided that the fire chief may issue permits for supervised displays of fireworks in the city by fair associations, shopping centers and other organizations or ...
Outdoor Burning
Waukegan bans open burning of leaves, brush, tree trimmings, paper, garbage and other combustible material anywhere in the city, public or private, under Sec. 10-8. The only way around it is a Fire Department permit for a supervised burning event, approved personally by the fire chief, or burning done by city crews removing diseased trees or training firefighters.
Waukegan Open Burning Ban
Heavy RestrictionsWaukegan City Code § 10-8(a)-(c)
Except as provided in section 15-26 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Waukegan, the open burning of leaves, brush, trimmings from trees or bushes, paper, garbage, refuse, waste, or other combustible material on any property, public or private, within the corporate limits of the City of Waukegan is prohibited. The foregoing prohibition shall not apply to the burning of diseased trees by a...
Smoke Detectors
Waukegan's Life Safety Code amendments require every licensed family or group day-care home inside a one- or two-family dwelling to install smoke alarms wired to the building's electrical system, arranged so one alarm sounding trips every alarm in the home. City Code § 9-109.1(6) mandates at least one alarm on each occupied level, excluding attics and crawl spaces.
Waukegan Day-Care Home Smoke Alarms
Some RestrictionsWaukegan, IL Code of Ordinances § 9-109.1(6)
(6)The home shall be equipped with smoke alarms permanently powered by the building's electrical system and wired so that the actuation of one smoke alarm will actuate all the smoke alarms in the dwelling. At least one such smoke alarm shall be located on each level of the occupancy (excluding unoccupied attics and crawl spaces), and the path of escape through the level of exit discharge (from ...
Propane Storage
Waukegan caps permanent bulk liquefied petroleum gas storage at 200 gallons citywide and requires a Fire Prevention Bureau permit for any bulk LP tank. City Code § 9-112 puts the fire chief's bureau, not the building department, in charge of approving bulk propane storage and use.
Waukegan LP Gas Storage Permit Limit
Some RestrictionsWaukegan, IL Code of Ordinances § 9-112
Sec. 9-112. - Consent required for bulk storage of LP gas. Storage or use of any bulk liquefied petroleum tanks require a permit from the Waukegan Fire Prevention Bureau. Storage of over 200 gallons of liquefied petroleum on a permanent basis within the city limits is prohibited.
Looking for Lake County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Waukegan city rules.
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