Winnebago County, IL Fire Regulations: Fire Pits & Backyard Fires (2026)
Fire pit rules in Winnebago County, IL, also called outdoor burning, recreational fire, or open flame ordinances, cover fuel types, clearances, and when burning is allowed.
Key Facts
- Setback from lot line
- 6 feet minimum
- Front/corner side yard
- Behind building setback line only
- Interior side & rear yard
- Permitted
- Allowed fuel
- Seasoned dry firewood only
- No waste burning
- Prohibited as fuel
Summary
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.
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]
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 64).
Full Breakdown
The county's Unified Development Ordinance lists "Outdoor Fireplaces" in Table 18-1 (Permitted Encroachments) and requires a minimum 6-foot setback from any lot line, allowed outright in interior side and rear yards and in front/corner side yards only behind the building setback line. Separately, the adopted Fire Code (2015 ICC International Fire Code as amended) treats recreational fires and bonfires as an exception to the general open-burning ban, but requires fuel to be limited to seasoned dry firewood and other fire-official-approved material: no waste burning.
Violations & Fines
Placing an outdoor fireplace or fire pit closer than 6 feet to a lot line, or in a front/corner side yard ahead of the building setback line, is a zoning encroachment violation subject to code enforcement under UDO Article 18. Burning waste or non-approved fuel in a recreational fire violates the amended Fire Code Section 307.4.4.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far from my property line does a fire pit need to be in Winnebago County?
What can I legally burn in a recreational fire or fire pit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Winnebago County
How Winnebago County compares: Cities with the Strictest Fire Pit Rules·Compare Winnebago County to another location·View the Illinois fire regulations overview
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