Illinois Open Burning Restrictions Under EPA Air Rules

Under the Illinois Environmental Protection Act, 415 ILCS 5/9, and 35 Ill. Adm. Code 237, open burning is generally prohibited except for limited exceptions. Allowed burns include small recreational fires, agricultural waste burning on the property where it grew, and landscape waste burning in certain rural areas only when not banned by local ordinance. Open burning of garbage, trade waste, demolition debris, tires, and treated lumber is prohibited statewide. Restricted areas include municipalities with populations over 1,000 and any area within five miles of such a city, where landscape waste burning is generally banned. Illinois EPA enforces statewide; local governments may impose stricter rules.

Violations may carry civil penalties up to 50,000 dollars per day plus 10,000 dollars for each day the violation continues.