St. Joseph County, IN Fire Regulations: Outdoor Burning (2026)
Outdoor burning rules in St. Joseph County, IN, 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
- Governing law
- County Code of Ordinances Chapter 91
- Leaf burning
- Banned outright, no exceptions (§ 91.03)
- Open burn permit
- Written health officer approval required (§ 91.02)
- Enforcement
- Health officer, county police, local fire depts (§ 91.15)
- First offense
- Warning notice or citation, officer's discretion (§ 91.16)
- Continuing violation
- Each day is a separate violation (§ 91.17)
- Penalty
- Fine per county schedule of fines and fees (§ 91.99)
Summary
St. Joseph County bans open burning countywide unless the health officer grants written approval, and it prohibits leaf burning outright with no exception, under Chapter 91 of the Code of Ordinances. Anyone burning leaves, running an unapproved salvage-burning operation, or igniting an open fire without sign-off from the health officer risks a warning notice on a first offense and a written citation carrying a fine set in the county's schedule of fines and fees on repeat violations.
§ 91.02. Open burning; requirements generally. (A)No person shall cause or allow open burning except with the written approval of the health officer. The health officer, in determining whether to approve or disapprove open burning, shall take into consideration the following:(1)Training of local fire department personnel;(2)Training of industrial fire department personnel;(3)Controlled burning to eliminate a threat to public health and welfare; and(4)Controlled burning to prevent spread of fire. ... (E)No person shall conduct or allow to be conducted a salvage operation involving open burning, or allow his or her property to be used for the open burning. § 91.03. Leaf burning. Unless permitted by the health officer in compliance with section 91.02 above as an "open burn", and notwithstanding any other provision of this code, burning leaves shall not be permitted in the county under any circumstances.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 3).
Full Breakdown
02, no one may cause or allow open burning in St. Joseph County without the written approval of the county health officer, who weighs the training of local and industrial fire department personnel and whether the burn is controlled to eliminate a threat to public health or to prevent the spread of fire. A request for approval must give the health officer the requester's name, address and phone number, the owner of the premises, the type of business or activity, a description and exact location of the burning site, the equipment to be used, surrounding buildings and improvements within 300 feet, the operating procedures, the burn schedule, and the type, quantity and composition of material to be burned.
The health officer cannot approve a burn until the fire department with jurisdiction over the site has signed off, and if the burn arises from an agricultural act, the health officer must first confer with the county Agricultural Extension Agent. The health officer may attach any reasonable restriction needed to prevent a nuisance or hazard, and no one may run a salvage operation involving open burning or let their property be used for one. 02. 15 rests with the health officer and designees, the police department, and any fire department operating in the county.
16, a first violation may draw a written notice of violation or, at the enforcement authority's discretion, an immediate citation, while a subsequent offense requires a citation. 17.
Violations & Fines
Fines for open-burning and leaf-burning violations are set out in the county's schedule of fines and fees under Section 91.99, and any ordinance or state law prescribing a different or additional penalty controls instead. Each day a violation continues counts as a separate offense. The health officer, police department or any fire department in the county can issue the citation, and the county attorney's office can pursue civil enforcement in circuit or superior court to collect unpaid penalties.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I burn leaves in unincorporated St. Joseph County?
Do I need a permit to burn brush or debris on my property?
Who enforces the county's open-burning ordinance?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in St. Joseph County
How St. Joseph County compares: Cities with the Strictest Outdoor Burning Rules·Compare St. Joseph County to another location·View the Indiana fire regulations overview
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