Lake County's Burning Ban

Burning Trash or Yard Waste is Against the Law!
In the past, open burning was considered a quick and cheap means of disposal. You might have enjoyed autumn's leaf burning tradition. In most cases burning can no longer be justified given the environmental and health costs when safe alternatives now exist state-wide. That's why Indiana law restricts open burning. A law was passed in 1995 that makes it illegal for residents in Lake, Porter, Clark, and Floyd counties to burn any household or yard waste. This law and others were created to reduce ozone in those regions. Moreover, it is illegal and dangerous to burn trash such as plastic containers, batteries, rubber, disposable diapers, and painted or otherwise treated items anywhere in Indiana.

What type of burning does the state allow?

The state allows two types of burning:

1. Recreational or ceremonial fires, but only if:
Clean wood, charcoal, paper, or petroleum products are burned,

The local fire department was notified 24 hours in advance

The fire is not ignited more than 2 hours before the recreational activity is to take place and is extinguished upon the conclusion of the activity,

The pile to be burned is less than 1000 cubic feet (10' X 10' X10'),

The fire is not for disposal purposes, and

The fire is not within 500 feet of a pipeline or fuel storage area;

NOTE: If anyone complains about the smoke and/or fire, you must extinguish the fire immediately! Failure to do so, will result in fines.

2. Maintenance Burning, but only if:

Vegetation (from a farm, nursery, orchard, tree farm, cemetery, or draining ditch),

Vegetation from agricultural land if the open burn occurs in an unincorporated area,

Wood products derived from pruning or clearing a roadside by a county highway department,

Wood products derived from the initial clearing of a public utility right-of-way in an unincorporated area, and

Undesirable wood structures on real property, or wood remnants of the demolition of such a structure originally located on real property, located in an unincorporated area. Asbestos-containing materials must be removed and may not be burned.

* NOTE: This type of burning is for maintenance purposes rather than when there is a change in the use of land. There are several restrictions on this type of burning. Please see Indiana Administrative Code 326 IAC 4-1 and Indiana Code 13-17-9 for the laws regarding this exemption.

Any questions or concerns, contact the firehouse @ 219.662.3248