Open Burning Permit

Cook County government requires open burning permits in suburban and unincorporated Cook County to protect life, property, prevent forest fires and false fire alarms. The regulations stipulate the conditions under which open burning may occur. Open burning permits also give authorities prior notice to any burn.

Open burning permits are required, but not limited to the following burning situations:

•     Prairie Burn
•     Pan Fire Training
•     Sectional Building Fires (for training purposes)
•     Landscape Waste
•     Air Curtain Incinerator for Landscape Waste

Note: The above list does not cover all burning situations in which an open burning permit is required. For the complete list of the criteria for legal and illegal open burning, please refer to the Cook County Ordinance.  

All open burn permit applications and payments shall be submitted through the department’s electronic permit processing portal at https://espay.cookcountyil.gov/DesWebPortal/#/openburn

If you have any questions please email burnpermit@cookcountyil.gov or call (312) 603-8200 option 3.

As of December 1, 2017, the Cook County Department of Environmental Control is now the Department of Environment and Sustainability.