The leaves will soon start falling onto lawns, sidewalks and front porches.

And while the temptation is to fix a yard’s look by burning piles of leaves, branches and grass clippings, area officials say residents should know the open burning laws first.

For example, if you live in unincorporated Grundy County, you can only open burn yard waste between Oct. 15 and May 1. But don’t think about open burning anything in the city of Joliet at any time of year.

And don’t forget about state open burning laws, which defer to local ordinances but prohibit burning of commercial waste, and regulate agricultural and disaster debris waste burning.

Be a good neighbor

The major problem with open burns, officials said, is it becomes a nuisance to neighbors.

“That’s one of the biggest concerns because it’s why we generally receive complaints,” said David Hartke, an environmental compliance officer with the Will County Land Use Department and an inspector with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.

Will County’s open burning laws don’t restrict the time of year residents can open burn on their properties. But Hartke said burn sites must be at least 50 feet from neighboring structures and the fire must be attended by an adult.

Also, county residents must make sure all leaves, branches and bushes come from the same property as the burn and are dry.

“Especially wet material produces more of an odor and smoke,” Hartke said. “Grass clippings are not allowed because they don’t burn well. They smolder and smoke, annoying the neighbors.”

Patio wood-burning units must be at least 15 feet from any neighboring structure.

In Grundy County, the time restrictions ensure burning is done when residents usually keep windows and doors closed, Department of Land Use Director Heidi Miller said.

“Also, the wind is not very strong,” Miller said.

In unincorporated Grundy County, open burns must be at least 20 feet from neighboring structures or property lines.

“A lot of it is common sense consideration from neighbors,” Miller said.

But there is a financial consideration too. Grundy County violators face a $100 fine for the first offense and a class B misdemeanor for subsequent offenses.

Hartke said Will County violators face a $50 fine for the first offense, $150 for the second and $500 for the third.

Local ordinances

Many of the major cities in both counties don’t allow open burning of yard waste in city limits.

According to section 8.44.060 of the Morris municipal code, “It is unlawful for any person to burn or cause the combustion of any landscape waste or yard waste at any time within the corporate limits of the City of Morris.”

Yard waste under that section refers to grass, garden clippings, brush, Christmas trees, leaves, tree clippings and yard maintenance materials.

Morris, however, does allow the open burning of limited amounts of dry paper, cardboard or other combustible materials that don’t produce an offensive odor if burned. These materials must be completely consumed by the fire before 7 p.m. daily.

The city of Joliet doesn’t allow open burning of any kind.

“It’s something the city stopped many years ago,” said Joliet Deputy Fire Chief Ray Randich, referring to laws passed in 1984.

However, Randich said renewed interest in fire pits has led to the city adopting rules for those fires.

“You need to make sure you’re only burning hardwood or commercially made logs,” Randich said. “People tend to burn leaves and scraps and we keep getting those complaints.”

Other municipalities in both counties vary in their approaches to open burning.

Coal City allows open burning of yard waste, but restricts it to Nov. 1 through February. Leaves can’t be burned between sunset and sunrise.

Plainfield doesn’t allow open burning of any waste except for Forest Preserve District of Will County purposes, preventative fires, campfire fuel burning, recreational or in fireplace burning, refinery waste gases and small open flames for heating tar, welding, highway safety flares and similar uses.

Alternatives

Both counties have had a few open burning violators over the past several years, officials said.

Will County advertises other ways to discard yard waste at www.willcountygreen.com, such as composting or using a mulching mower for leaves and grass clippings.

Grundy County promotes similar initiatives through its Environmental and Resource Conservation Office.

Joliet allows residents to gather yard waste in paper bags, or a rented dumpster for large items such as tree branches, for free pickup.

But some officials, like Randich, promote a much more natural alternative.

“Leaves fall onto the ground for a purpose,” he said. “They say it creates a bedding on the ground, a natural cycle of mother nature. It’s almost meant to be left there.”

––––––

COUNTY OPEN BURN LAWS

Grundy County

• Must be dry landscape waste and brush

• Must be generated on the property where burn will occur

• Must be conducted between Oct. 15 and May 1

• Must be done between 7 p.m. to 10 a.m. weekdays and 7 p.m. to 9 a.m. weekends

• Must be at least 20 feet from a building or property line

• Must occur with adult supervision and with means to extinguish the fire available.

Will County

• Must be landscape waste

• Must be at least 50 feet from any neighboring structure

• Patio wood-burning units must be at least 15 feet from neighboring structures

• Must occur with “competent” supervision until extinguished

• Must have means to extinguish the fire available.