Warrick County, IN Fire Regulations: Outdoor Burning (2026)

Warrick County Code Chapter 133 governs open burning across unincorporated Warrick County, Indiana; incorporated Boonville, Newburgh, Chandler, Elberfeld, Lynnville and Tennyson set their own rules. Section 133.02 clarifies the chapter supplements, but does not replace, I.C. 13-17-9 and 326 IAC 4-1-3, the state statute and administrative rule that already authorize certain open burning. Section 133.03 flatly bars any person from openly burning in the county except as allowed by the chapter or by state law. It also gives the Board of Commissioners power to declare an open burn emergency, which can carry an expiration date or run until the Board revokes it and can be limited to particular areas or times of day; during a declared emergency, no one may start an open burn without first obtaining a permit from a local fire department and carrying it while burning.

Section 133.04 exceptions apply outside an emergency: wood-product burning (except leaves) is allowed for school pep rallies, cooking fires, scouting activities, state-authorized burning, and burning under a local fire department permit; non-wood-product burning needs permits from the Indiana Air Pollution Control Board, IDEM, and the Board of Commissioners. Section 133.05 requires every allowed fire to be extinguished if it becomes a nuisance or hazard, bans burning in high winds, temperature inversions, or air stagnation, requires constant attendance until extinguished, and bans burning asbestos-containing material. Section 133.06 lets the county sue for an injunction against continuing violations.