Peoria, IL Fire Regulations: Outdoor Burning (2026)

Sec. 11-161 of the City Code flatly prohibits kindling or maintaining any outside fire in Peoria, on private or public premises, unless the fire marshal or a designee has approved it under the Peoria Fire Department Open Burning Policy. The city separately amended the International Fire Code 2012 at Sec. 30 (adopted locally as Sec. 11-92(e)) to require an operational permit for kindling or maintaining an open fire on any public street, alley, road, or other public or private ground, and orders that the permit's instructions and stipulations be followed.

Because this dual structure sits on top of the general fire code adopted in Sec. 11-91, both the underlying permission from the fire marshal and, where applicable, an IFC operational permit are required before any outdoor fire is lawful. The fire marshal also retains standing authority under Sec. 11-163 to order the immediate suspension of any burning that is otherwise permitted, if atmospheric conditions make it a substantial hazard to public health or a substantial fire hazard, and that suspension order takes effect immediately without prior filing at the city clerk's office.

The fire marshal or designee enforces the article under Sec. 11-164 and may adopt implementing rules and regulations, but those rules must be filed with the city clerk at least ten days before taking effect. Article V, containing Secs. 11-161 through 11-164, replaced the former Code section 16-131 through 16-134 by Ord. No. 15649, adopted July 6, 2004.