Can You Burn Leaves in Rockford and Nearby Towns?
Updated
Short answer
Not in Rockford (prohibited), Loves Park, Belvidere, Davis Junction or Pecatonica. Machesney Park allows it in April and November only; several other villages allow limited windows; unincorporated Winnebago County allows dry leaves only on certain spring and November weekends, and never near no-burn towns.
Town by town
| Where | Leaf burning |
|---|---|
| Rockford | Prohibited. |
| Loves Park | Not allowed (WTVO roundup). |
| Belvidere | Prohibited in city limits. |
| Machesney Park | April and November only. |
| Cherry Valley | Own property, sunrise to sunset, last two weekends of October and first two of November. |
| New Milford | April, and October 20 to November 20, 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. |
| Roscoe | Allowed on the premises where generated, attended. |
| Rockton | April, October and November, with restrictions. |
| South Beloit | Fall period from the first Saturday in October (Oct 4 to Nov 16 in 2025). |
| Byron | April 15 to May 31 and October 15 to November 30, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. |
| Davis Junction | Not allowed. |
| Pecatonica | No yard or garden waste may be burned. |
| Unincorporated Winnebago County | Banned near no-burn towns; elsewhere dry leaves on weekends April 15 to May 15 and in November, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. |
| Unincorporated Boone County | Landscape waste may be burned on the property where it was generated; never garbage. |
| Unincorporated Ogle County | On the property where generated, at least 50 feet from the nearest residence. |
Each town's page links its source. Rules change; confirm with the town before burning.
The state rule underneath
Illinois EPA: within a town of 1,000 or more people, or within a mile of one, it is illegal to burn anything except landscape waste, and local ordinances can limit even that. Wet gutter sludge burns badly and smokes heavily, so bagging it for yard waste pickup is the better route almost everywhere.
Quick answers
Can I burn leaves in Rockford?
No. The City of Rockford prohibits burning yard waste. Use paper yard waste bags or an X-marked can on garbage day.
Rather have someone else do it?
Tell us the address, how tall the house is and what you need. A local crew calls back with a price before anything is booked.