Peoria, IL Fire Regulations: Outdoor Burning (2026)

The Peoria Fire Department Open Burning Policy (Sept. 2019 revision), adopted under Peoria Code Chapter 11, Article V and 2018 International Fire Code Chapter 3 (Section 307), classifies allowed burning into four categories: (1) Recreational fires — campfires and cookouts — require a $10 permit from Fire Prevention obtained at least 24 hours in advance; (2) Bonfires for officially sponsored civic, educational, or religious events require an $80 permit, a 48-hour application lead time, site map review, four adult supervisors, and an on-site Peoria Fire Department engine; (3) Prescribed burns for prairie/wildland management require an Illinois EPA permit, a $100 city permit, and NFPA 1051/1143-qualified personnel; (4) Construction-site land-clearing burns require an IEPA permit, a $200 city permit, an air curtain destructor unit, and a 1,000-foot setback from any occupied structure. All other open burning is prohibited. Specifically banned materials under Section 3 of the policy include rubbish, garbage, yard waste (leaves, grass clippings, branches), treated lumber, plastics, pesticides, construction/demolition debris, asbestos, oils, asphalt, chemical wastes, synthetic materials, and rubber. Burn barrels are strictly prohibited except as fire-chief-approved warming stations for outdoor workers. Open burning on sidewalks, streets, alleys, and rights-of-way is prohibited regardless of material. Highway flares, welding torches, and firefighter training fires are exempt from permit requirements.