600 N. Deerpath Drive Vernon Hills, IL 60061Please notify Countryside Dispatch (non-emergency) at (847) 362-5224 before doing any burning.
| Jurisdiction | Regulations |
| Village of Vernon Hills | Open burning is NOT permitted. Outdoor fireplaces and fire pits are permitted only when firewood is used for recreational purposes in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. |
| Village of Long Grove | The burning of leaves or grass clippings is NOT permitted. Burning of twigs, branches, and small trees is permitted. With a permit, prairie conservation areas are allowed to be burned in a controlled manner. |
| Village of Hawthorn Woods | Open burning is NOT permitted. Outdoor fireplaces and fire pits are permitted only when firewood is used for recreational purposes in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. With a permit, prairie conservation burns are allowed to be burned in a controlled manner. |
| Indian Creek | Burning of leaves or grass clippings is NOT permitted. Outdoor fireplaces and fire pits are permitted only when firewood is used for recreational / cooking purposes in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. With a permit, prairie conservation areas are allowed to be burned in a controlled manner. |
| Unincorporated Lake County | Burning of leaves or grass clippings is NOT permitted. Small branches are permitted during daylight hours and only from NOVEMBER – MARCH 31. The burning of branches must be generated on the property. The maximum size of any burn pile is 5′ in diameter and 3′ high. Recreational fire size 3′ x 3′ x 3′ permitted year round. |
| Bonfires (All Areas) | Requires notification and approval from the District. |
CFPD Downloadable Brochure/Open Burn Permit Application
CFPD’s Guide to Open Burning in the Countryside Fire Protection District (Updated June 2022)
Open Burning Restrictions in Unincorporated Lake County
Permanent Open Burning Ordinance (Effective June 1, 2022)
The Lake County Board approved an ordinance to enact permanent open burning restrictions for unincorporated areas of Lake County. In addition to the ordinance, franchise waste hauler agreements to provide consolidated waste hauling services in unincorporated areas within certain townships were approved.
The ordinance went into effect on June 1, 2022, to coincide with the start of consolidated waste hauling services. The ordinance can be found online by clicking here.
Franchise Waste Hauling (Effective June 1, 2022)
Lake County has franchise waste hauler agreements with Groot Industries and Lakeshore Recycling Systems for certain townships of unincorporated areas. Learn more.
Ordinance Enforcement
Violations of this ordinance are subject to enforcement.