Fire Regulations in Winnebago County, IL (2026)

3 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Winnebago County, Illinois.

Verified from official government sources

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

Fire Pits & Backyard Fires

Winnebago County allows outdoor fireplaces and fire pits as accessory features but requires them to sit at least 6 feet from any lot line under the zoning code's encroachment table.

Winnebago County Fire Pit Setback Rule

Some Restrictions

Winnebago County UDO Sec. 18.4, Table 18-1 (Permitted Encroachments)

Outdoor Fireplaces - Minimum of 6' from any lot line [Front Yard, Corner Side Yard: Y, but behind building setback line; Interior Side Yard: Y; Rear Yard: Y]

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Outdoor Burning

Winnebago County bans open burning of most materials, allowing only farm burns, state-permitted burns, campfires, and seasonal weekend landscape-waste fires.

Winnebago County Open Burning Ban

Significant Restrictions

Winnebago County Code § 42-3

Except for landscape waste as regulated in subsection (c) below, no person shall cause or allow the open burning of any materials in the county with the exception of the following: (1) Burning at any time by farmers... (2) Burning authorized by a special permit issued by the state environmental protection agency... (3) Burning of fuels for campfires, picnics or other recreational purposes... No...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Smoke Detectors

Winnebago County requires every rooming house unit to have a working smoke detector near the sleeping area, plus a hallway smoke detector system in any rooming house with more than three units.

Smoke Detectors Required in Winnebago County Rooming Houses

Some Restrictions

Sec. 18-205(5)

Every rooming unit shall have at least one functioning smoke detector located on or near the ceiling in or immediately adjacent to the sleeping spaces. If the roominghouse has more than three rooming units, there shall be a smoke detector system installed in the hallways on each floor and in other locations designated by the applicable fire code.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Fire Regulations by City in Winnebago County

1 cities in Winnebago County have their own fire regulations rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.

RockfordPop. 148,655

3 verified rules • Fire Pits & Backyard Fires, Outdoor Burning

All Winnebago County ordinances

See every category we cover for Winnebago County: parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.

Winnebago County Ordinance Hub →