Rockford, IL Fire Regulations: Outdoor Burning (2026)
Outdoor burning rules in Rockford, 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
- Container size limit
- 2 ft wide, 3 ft diameter max
- Allowed hours
- 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. only
- Permitted purpose
- Cooking food only
- Supervision required
- Adult over 18 on site
- Fine range
- $50 to $750, per day
Summary
Rockford prohibits open burning citywide unless it's a small, supervised cooking fire in a noncombustible container under 3 feet across, burned only between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m.
No person may engage in open burning unless said open burning:a.Is supervised by a person over 18 years of age;b.Occurs in an area of less than two feet wide and three feet in diameter;c.Takes place between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m.;d.Is contained in a purpose-built container constructed of non-combustible materials such as steel or stone, whether installed in-ground or as a movable unit;e.Is kindled for the purposes of cooking food for human consumption;f.Is fueled entirely by seasoned dry firewood, charcoal, or propane; andg.Adequate methods of extinguishment are easily accessible.(2)No person may continue to kindle or maintain any open burning otherwise in compliance with this section if said fire has been ordered extinguished by the fire code official or his designee. (Ord. No. 2019-139-O, Att., 6-24-2019)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 18).
Full Breakdown
City Code Sec. 17-6(c) makes open burning unlawful unless it meets every listed condition: supervised by someone over 18, confined to a purpose-built noncombustible container no more than 2 feet wide and 3 feet in diameter, lit only for cooking food, fueled solely by seasoned dry firewood, charcoal, or propane, kept to the hours of 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., and equipped with extinguishing tools on hand. Open burning covers recreational fires, bonfires, and outdoor fireplaces. The Fire Code Official can order any fire extinguished, and continuing to burn after that order is a separate violation.
Violations & Fines
Violating the open-burning restriction is a Code violation punishable by a fine of $50 to $750 under Sec. 1-9, with each continuing day a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I have a bonfire or burn yard waste in Rockford?
What container is required for a legal cooking fire?
Can the city make me put out a fire that follows all the rules?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Rockford
How Rockford compares: Cities with the Strictest Outdoor Burning Rules·Compare Rockford to another location·View the Illinois fire regulations overview
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