Oak Park, IL Fire Regulations: Outdoor Burning (2026)

D, part of the Village's Smoke Abatement and Air Pollution Control chapter, states flatly that no open fires are allowed and no person shall burn leaves or other refuse in an open fire. There are only two carve-outs. First, open fires used for cooking food at public and private gatherings are permitted, but they must still meet the chapter's smoke requirements and the Village's nuisance provisions elsewhere in the code. Second, open fires used for managing native landscaping are allowed only if the property owner first obtains a permit from the Oak Park Fire Department, issued without charge; if the burn will occur on public property such as the parkway, the owner must apply at least ten days ahead.

That permit comes loaded with conditions: the owner must show proof of required permits from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and the Cook County Department of Environmental Control to both the Fire Department and Public Works; protect Village trees, utility poles and other property if burning on the right of way; keep an adult present at all times; keep a charged garden hose or water buckets on hand; add no additional yard waste once the fire is burning; skip the burn entirely if wind exceeds fifteen miles per hour; stay at least fifteen feet from any structure; burn only between December 1 and April 30; and use no accelerant except drip torch fuel from a drip torch.

Enforcement runs through the Director of Community Development, who administers the Village's air pollution control effort under Section 21-1-4 and may investigate complaints and inspect properties for compliance.