Small recreational backyard fires are allowed under the state open-burning exemption, but only at homes of four or fewer units, in a contained non-combustible pit burning clean wood. Apartments and mobile home parks are excluded, and yard waste is never allowed.
A backyard recreational fire qualifies under IDEM's 326 IAC 4-1-3 exemption when it burns only clean wood, paper, charcoal, or clean petroleum products, is not for disposal, stays under 1,000 cubic feet, and is attended until fully extinguished. Locally in Lake County and Crown Point, such fires are limited to residences of four or fewer units; apartments and mobile home parks may not have them. The fire must sit in a non-combustible container with enclosed sides and bottom and may not create a smoke nuisance for neighbors. Burning trash, treated wood, plastics, leaves, or grass is prohibited.
A fire that burns banned materials, drifts smoke into a neighbor's home, or becomes a hazard is a Class C open-burning infraction and can be ordered extinguished by the fire department.
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