Fire Regulations in Cook County, IL (2026)

4 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 9 cities in Cook County, Illinois.

Verified from official government sources

Note: These county rules apply to unincorporated areas of Cook County. If you live within an incorporated city, that city's own rules apply: see the city list below.

Fire Pits & Backyard Fires

Cook County bans open burning countywide (except Chicago), but exempts legitimate campfire, recreational, and cooling fires from that ban under Sec. 30-385, provided they don't create air pollution or violate a municipality's own rules.

Cook County Recreational Fire Pit Rules

Light Restrictions

Cook County Code § 30-385

No person shall cause or allow open burning except as provided in Subsections (a), (b) and (c) of this section...The following activities are not in violation of this Section unless they cause air pollution. Nothing in this section shall exempt such activities from applicable local restrictions...The burning of fuels for legitimate campfire, recreational, and cooling purposes, or in domestic fi...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Fireworks

Cook County bans possessing, selling, or using fireworks countywide, with violations fined $250 per day; only permitted fireworks displays by fairs, parks, or government entities are allowed under Sec. 58-117.

Cook County Fireworks Ban and Display Permits

Heavy Restrictions

Cook County Code § 58-113

No person shall possess, store, offer for sale, expose for sale, manufacture, sell at retail, dispose of, advertise for, or use or explode any fireworks except as provided in Section 58-117 of this article.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Outdoor Burning

Cook County bans open burning countywide (except Chicago) under Sec. 30-385, unless the burn fits a narrow exception, like on-site landscape waste, or the Department of Environment and Sustainability issues a burn permit.

Cook County Open Burning Prohibition and Permits

Significant Restrictions

Cook County Code § 30-385

No person shall cause or allow open burning except as provided in Subsections (a), (b) and (c) of this section. No person shall cause or allow the burning of any refuse in any chamber or apparatus, unless such chamber or apparatus is designed for the purpose of disposing of the class of refuse being burned.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Smoke Detectors

Under the Cook County Residential Tenant and Landlord Ordinance, a rental unit isn't legally habitable unless it has the right number of smoke alarms, smoke detectors, and fire alarm systems in accessible locations: measured against the applicable municipal building code, or the Cook County Building Code in unincorporated areas.

Cook County Rental Habitability Requires Working Smoke Alarms

Some Restrictions

Cook County Code § 42-105(c)

Sec. 42-105. - Tenant rights. ... (c)Tenant right to dwelling that materially complies with habitability. ... (2)Where the property is in a municipality that has adopted a municipal building code, the landlord and tenant may use that municipal code as reference for determining habitability standards. Where the property is in in a municipality that has not adopted a municipal building code or is...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗