Open Burning

Ordinance 2022-07 adopted November 13, 2022
Extracted from Bellflower Municipal Code

CHAPTER 5.16 - BURNING LEAVES AND RUBBISH

No person shall burn any leaves, paper, rubbish, or other substances upon any street, sidewalk, or alley.  [See Chapter 12.11 “Open Burning” for further information and restrictions related to open burning of leaves and rubbish.]

CHAPTER 12.11 - OPEN BURNING

1. No person shall cause or allow open burning of any combustible material or refuse, conduct any salvage operation by open burning, or cause or allow the open burning of any combustible material or refuse in any chamber not specifically designed for the purpose and approved by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency pursuant to regulations adopted by the Illinois Air Pollution Control Board, except that it shall be lawful for any person to burn landscape waste upon the premises where it is produced, when such burning shall take place between sunup and sundown, and when such burning is conducted in a manner and under such conditions as will create the least visibility hazards on adjacent roadways, walkways and railroad tracks, and will create the least amount of pollutants reasonably possible at such time. Further, it shall also be lawful for any person to set fire to, ignite, or burn any combustible material in any outdoor fireplace, grill, or barbecue pit if:
   
   
   1. Such fire is used solely for the purpose of cooking; and
   2. Such fire is kept under competent and continuous supervision; and
   3. All inflammable and combustible material is removed a distance of at least 30 feet from the fireplace, grill, or barbecue pit so as not to constitute a fire hazard; and
   4. All such burning is a distance of at least 30 feet from other residences and properties to not be a nuisance, constitute a fire hazard, or impair the breathing of free air to adjacent persons or property owners; and
   5. All fires or coals in said fireplace, grill or barbecue pit are thoroughly extinguished after the use thereof has been completed.
      
      
2. Definitions.
   1. Open Burning. The combustion of any matter in the open or in an open dump.
   2. Landscape Waste. All accumulations of grass or shrubbery cuttings, leaves, tree limbs, and other materials accumulated as the result of the care of lawns, shrubbery, vines, and trees.
   3. Trimmings from shrubs, trees, or other woody plants not less than two feet nor more than six feet in length, and not more than two inches in diameter.
      
      
3. Burning of Landscape Waste. The burning of landscape waste in the open air, under proper regulations, shall be permitted so long as the same is not in conflict with the provisions of the acts of the state and its subsidiary agencies relative to the burning of landscape wastes in open air.
   
   
4. This section shall embrace, but not conflict with, the provisions of the Illinois Environmental Protection Act, Title II – Air Pollution (415 ILCS 5/9(c)).