Fire Regulations in McHenry County, IL (2026)
4 rules for unincorporated McHenry County, Illinois.
Verified from official government sources
Fire Pits & Backyard Fires
A backyard fire pit in unincorporated McHenry County qualifies as a 'recreational fire' under the county's Open Burning Ordinance if it stays no larger than three feet by three feet by three feet. That size keeps it exempt from the landscape-waste burn-day, wind, and setback rules, but it still must be watched by someone at least 18 years old the whole time it burns.
McHenry County Backyard Fire Pit Rules
Light RestrictionsMcHenry County Public Health Ordinance §§ 8.04.060, 8.04.090
“Recreational Fire” means a temporary outdoor fire for warmth, cooking for human consumption, or for non-ceremonial purposes where the fire is not larger than three feet by three feet by three feet (3'x3'x3') and excludes leaves, grass or shrubbery clippings or cuttings. ... Subsections B.2.a. and B.2.b.; B.3.c.1-3.; and B.4.b. shall not apply to the burning of brush for purposes of cooking, he...
Fireworks
Illinois bans consumer fireworks statewide. In McHenry County you may not possess, sell, use, or explode firecrackers, bottle rockets, or Roman candles. Only novelties like sparklers, snakes, and party poppers are legal, and cities may restrict even those.
Consumer Fireworks Are Illegal in McHenry County
Some Restrictions425 ILCS 30/2
snake or glow worm pellets; smoke devices; sparklers; trick noisemakers known as 'party poppers', 'booby traps', 'snappers', 'trick matches', 'cigarette loads' and 'auto burglar alarms'; ... the sale and use of which shall be permitted at all times
Outdoor Burning
Unincorporated McHenry County limits open burning to landscape waste and brush, on weekends between dawn and dusk in October, November, April and May only, under § 8.04.090. Fires must stay at least 100 feet from a habitable structure and 50 feet from any other structure, can't run in winds over 10 mph, and burning garbage, manure or litter is banned outright.
Open Burning Rules in McHenry County
Significant RestrictionsMcHenry County Public Health Ordinance § 8.04.090(B)(2), (B)(3)(c)
Open burning of landscape waste shall not take place within one hundred feet (100') feet of a habitable structure. ... Open burning of landscape waste shall not take place less than fifty feet (50') from any structure that is not habitable. ... The burning of manure, garbage, litter or any materials other than landscape waste and/or brush is prohibited on any property in McHenry County. ... Bur...
Smoke Detectors
Illinois law requires a working smoke detector within 15 feet of every sleeping room and on every story of a home, including basements. Since January 1, 2023, newly installed alarms must have sealed 10-year batteries.
Smoke Alarms Required Within 15 Feet of Bedrooms
Some Restrictions425 ILCS 60/3
Every dwelling unit or hotel shall be equipped with at least one approved smoke detector in an operating condition within 15 feet of every room used for sleeping purposes. Every single family residence shall have at least one approved smoke detector installed on every story of the dwelling unit, including basements but not including unoccupied attics.
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