Winnebago County, IL Fire Regulations: Outdoor Burning (2026)
Outdoor burning rules in Winnebago County, IL, also called the burn ban, open burning, or fire restriction ordinance, set when you can burn yard waste, debris, or run a recreational fire.
Key Facts
- Default rule
- Open burning banned countywide
- Landscape waste window
- Weekends only, Apr 15-May 15 & Nov
- Daily hours
- 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. only
- Wind limit
- No burning over 10 mph wind
- Garbage/refuse burning
- Prohibited at all times
Summary
Winnebago County bans open burning of most materials, allowing only farm burns, state-permitted burns, campfires, and seasonal weekend landscape-waste fires.
Except for landscape waste as regulated in subsection (c) below, no person shall cause or allow the open burning of any materials in the county with the exception of the following: (1) Burning at any time by farmers... (2) Burning authorized by a special permit issued by the state environmental protection agency... (3) Burning of fuels for campfires, picnics or other recreational purposes... No open burning of garbage or refuse shall be permitted at any time.
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
Winnebago County's default rule is a ban: no one may cause or allow open burning of any materials in unincorporated areas except four narrow categories, active farming operations, burns permitted by the state EPA, recreational campfires and picnic fires, and prescribed ecological burns. Landscape waste gets a separate carve-out: dry leaves, grass, and weeds may be burned only on weekends from April 15-May 15 and in November, only 10 a.m.-7 p.m., only on the generating property, never unattended, and never when wind exceeds 10 mph. Burning garbage or refuse is prohibited outright at all times, and no burning of any kind may occur on a street, sidewalk, or right-of-way.
Violations & Fines
Enforced under Chapter 4 administrative code enforcement procedures in addition to any other penalties authorized by law.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I burn leaves in my yard in Winnebago County?
Are campfires allowed under the burning ban?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Winnebago County
How Winnebago County compares: Cities with the Strictest Outdoor Burning Rules·Compare Winnebago County to another location·View the Illinois fire regulations overview
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