Aurora, IL Fire Regulations: Fire Pits & Backyard Fires (2026)
Fire pit rules in Aurora, IL, also called outdoor burning, recreational fire, or open flame ordinances, cover fuel types, clearances, and when burning is allowed.
Key Facts
- Governing section
- § 12-17.8, amending IFC § 105.5.36
- Rule
- Recreational-fire permit exception deleted
- Permit issuer
- Fire code official / fire marshal
- Penalty
- $100-$1,000 misdemeanor, § 113.4
- Applies
- Citywide, all four counties
Summary
Aurora requires a fire code operational permit for every open fire, including small backyard recreational fires: the city's Fire Code amendments strip out the standard exception that lets other jurisdictions' residents burn a small fire without one.
The following sections of the 2024 International Fire Code adopted in section 12-16 are hereby revised as follows: ... 105.5.36 Open Burning shall be changed to delete the exception.
Full Breakdown
Section 12-17.8 of the Aurora Code of Ordinances amends the locally adopted 2024 International Fire Code section by section; among the changes, "105.5.36 Open Burning shall be changed to delete the exception," which the base Fire Code otherwise uses to exempt recreational fires from the operational-permit requirement. Aurora struck that carve-out, so a backyard fire pit, chiminea, or bonfire needs a permit from the fire code official, the fire marshal for operational matters, the same as any other open burning. The requirement applies citywide regardless of which of Aurora's four counties (Kane, DuPage, Will, Kendall) the property sits in.
Violations & Fines
Burning without the required Fire Code operational permit is a misdemeanor under Aurora's amended IFC § 113.4, punishable by $100-$1,000 per offense, with each continuing day a separate violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit for a small backyard fire pit in Aurora, IL?
What happens if I burn without a permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Aurora
How Aurora compares: Cities with the Strictest Fire Pit Rules·Compare Aurora to another location·View the Illinois fire regulations overview
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Fire Pits & Backyard Fires in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle fire pits & backyard fires.