Outdoor Burning: Downers Grove vs Naperville
How do outdoor burning rules compare between Downers Grove, IL and Naperville, IL?
Naperville has fewer restrictions than Downers Grove.
Downers Grove, IL
DuPage County
DuPage County has not adopted a separate county-level open-burning ordinance, so outdoor burning is governed by the Illinois EPA rule at 35 IL Adm Code Part 237. Landscape-waste burning is prohibited in any municipality over 2,500 population, in areas adjoining those municipalities, and everywhere within 40 air miles of the former Meigs Field in Chicago — a restricted zone that covers all of DuPage County. Burning of household garbage is prohibited statewide, and local municipalities may add stricter bans.
View full Downers Grove rules →Naperville, IL
DuPage County
Open burning is prohibited in Naperville without a permit. Residents must obtain both an Illinois EPA permit and a Naperville Fire Department burn permit. Recreational cooking fires in approved containers are exempt from the permit requirement.
View full Naperville rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Downers Grove | Naperville |
|---|---|---|
| - | - | |
| Permit Required | - | Yes, for open burning |
| EPA Permit | - | Required first |
| Fire Dept. | - | 1380 Aurora Ave |
| Recreational Fires | - | Exempt if in container |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Downers Grove FAQ
Can I burn leaves or yard waste in my DuPage County backyard?
Almost certainly no. 35 IL Adm Code §237.120(a)(3) bans landscape-waste open burning everywhere within 40 air miles of Meigs Field in Chicago, and all of DuPage County sits inside that 40-mile zone. The same subsection separately bans burning in any municipality over 2,500 population, which captures nearly every incorporated DuPage community. Use curbside yard-waste pickup or a county-permitted composting site instead.
Are recreational campfires or fire pits allowed in DuPage County?
Under state law, 35 IAC §237.120(e) allows small open fires for "recreational" purposes using clean dry untreated wood and not for the disposal of garbage. However, most DuPage municipalities (Naperville, Wheaton, Downers Grove, Glen Ellyn, and others) have adopted stricter local fire-pit and outdoor-burning ordinances. Before lighting a fire, confirm rules with your village or fire protection district.
Why is open burning so restricted in DuPage County?
DuPage County is fully inside the Chicago non-attainment area for ozone and fine particulates, and 35 IAC Part 237 was written specifically to keep particulate-heavy smoke out of the metropolitan air shed. The 40-air-mile circle around the former Meigs Field in §237.120(a)(3) is the regulatory mechanism that closes the landscape-waste loophole everywhere in the Chicago region.
Who do I call to report illegal open burning in unincorporated DuPage County?
For an active out-of-control fire, call 911. For non-emergency reports, contact the Illinois EPA Bureau of Air at 217-782-2113, or contact the local fire protection district that serves the unincorporated area (e.g., Lisle-Woodridge, York Center, or Carol Stream). The DuPage County Health Department also accepts air-quality complaints at 630-682-7400.
Naperville FAQ
Can I burn leaves in my yard in Naperville?
No. Burning leaves, yard waste, garbage, or trash is prohibited in Naperville. Only charcoal and clean dry wood may be burned in approved recreational fire containers.
How do I get an open burn permit in Naperville?
First obtain an Illinois EPA Open Burning Permit, then bring it to the Naperville Fire Department at 1380 Aurora Avenue to receive the city burn permit.
Compare other topics
See how Downers Grove and Naperville compare on other ordinance categories.
Want to add a third city?
Use our full comparison tool to compare up to three cities.
Open Comparison Tool