Lake County, IL Fire Regulations: Fire Pits & Backyard Fires (2026)
Fire pit rules in Lake County, IL, also called outdoor burning, recreational fire, or open flame ordinances, cover fuel types, clearances, and when burning is allowed.
Key Facts
- Max size
- 3 ft x 3 ft x 3 ft
- Setback from structures
- 25 feet minimum
- Applies to
- Unincorporated Lake County only
- Attendance
- Constant, with fire extinguisher on hand
- Permit needed
- No, if within recreational-fire limits
Summary
Recreational fires up to 3 feet by 3 feet by 3 feet are allowed in unincorporated Lake County without a burn permit, but must stay 25 feet from structures and be constantly attended under the county's Fire Code amendments.
RECREATIONAL FIRE. An outdoor fire no larger than three feet by three feet by three feet which is used for warmth, cooking for human consumption and/or temporary non-ceremonial purposes where the fire does not contain non-woody landscape waste, garbage, or junk and debris. ... 307.4.2 Recreational fires. Recreational fires shall not be conducted within 25 feet (7,620 mm) of a structure or combustible material.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-15: Supplement contains: Local legislation current through Ord. 26-0618, passed 6-9-2026 | State legislation current through ILCS Pamphlet 2025 #5).
Full Breakdown
Under Lake County Code § 94.04, a RECREATIONAL FIRE is an outdoor fire no larger than three feet by three feet by three feet used for warmth, cooking, or non-ceremonial purposes, containing no garbage or landscape waste. Section 94.05(I) exempts recreational fires from the county's open-burning nuisance ban in the unincorporated area. The 2024 fire code amendments at § 150.21, § 307.4.2, require recreational fires be kept at least 25 feet from any structure or combustible material, and § 307.5 requires constant attendance with a portable fire extinguisher or other extinguishing equipment on hand until the fire is out. These rules apply only outside incorporated cities and villages.
Violations & Fines
Open burning that exceeds the recreational-fire limits is a public nuisance, citable through county administrative adjudication or a notice to appear in 19th Judicial Circuit Court; the fire code official may order a noncompliant fire extinguished.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit for a backyard fire in unincorporated Lake County?
Do these Lake County fire rules apply inside Waukegan or Highland Park?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lake County
How Lake County compares: Cities with the Strictest Fire Pit Rules·Compare Lake County to another location·View the Illinois fire regulations overview
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