Fire pit rules in McHenry County, IL — also called outdoor burning, recreational fire, or open flame ordinances — cover fuel types, clearances, and when burning is allowed.
A recreational fire, defined as an outdoor fire no larger than 3'x3'x3' for warmth or cooking, needs no permit in McHenry County. It may not burn leaves, grass, or shrubbery clippings. Stricter city rules override the county rule.
The McHenry County Public Health Ordinance (open-burning article) defines a recreational fire as a temporary outdoor fire not larger than 3 feet by 3 feet by 3 feet, used for warmth, cooking for human consumption, or non-ceremonial purposes, and excluding leaves, grass, or shrubbery clippings or cuttings. No permit is required. A fire larger than 3'x3'x3' is a ceremonial fire (bonfire) needing a free permit from the County Department of Health. If your city (Crystal Lake, Woodstock, McHenry) has stricter rules, the more restrictive rule applies. Keep fire pits attended, on a noncombustible surface, away from structures, and use clean, dry firewood.
Unlawful burning is enforced by the County Department of Health and local fire protection districts as a public-health nuisance, subject to orders to extinguish and citations.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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Crystal Lake collects yard waste and food-scrap compost weekly at the curb from April 1 through November 30. Leaves and grass must go in biodegradable paper ...
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Crystal Lake and McHenry County have no ordinance specifically banning or approving residential artificial turf. Installations must still meet Unified Develo...
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Illinois' Homeowners' Native Landscaping Act bars community associations from banning native-species plantings that are kept free of weeds and don't encroach...
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Neither Crystal Lake nor McHenry County prohibits residential rain barrels or rainwater collection, and Illinois has no statewide ban. The McHenry County Sto...
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Crystal Lake uses a color-coded water-conservation system. During a declared 'Yellow' condition, odd-numbered addresses water on odd dates and even addresses...
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Crystal Lake Chapter 526 lists noxious weeds - burdock, ragweed, thistle, poison ivy, wild mustard and others - plus any unmanaged vegetation as nuisance gre...
See how McHenry County's fire pit rules rules stack up against other locations.
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