Outdoor burning rules in South Bend, 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.
South Bend bans burning leaves, grass, rubbish, and trash. Permitted open burns must stay 50 feet from structures (15 feet in an approved container), and the fire department must be notified first.
South Bend prohibits leaf, grass, paper, rubbish, and trash burning under Sec. 9-20 of the Municipal Code, layered on top of IDEM's statewide open-burning rules (326 IAC 4-1). Any permitted open burn must be kept at least 50 feet from any structure, with steps taken to keep the fire from spreading within that zone; in an approved container the distance drops to 15 feet. The fire department must be notified before an open burn begins, and the fire must be constantly attended by someone equipped to extinguish it. Recreational fires in fire pits are regulated separately.
Illegal burning under Sec. 9-20 draws municipal fines and an order to extinguish. IDEM open-burning violations run $100 or more per day, and an escaped fire can bring criminal charges.
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See how South Bend's outdoor burning rules stack up against other locations.
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