Diamond’s leaves can burn, Coal City’s cannot

As leaves piling up, the village of Coal City reminds residents the town code bans leaf and yard waste burning in most areas of the community between April 1 and November 30. So if you want to burn the leaves falling in your yard you’ll have to wait until December 1.
Leaves can be placed in the recently delivered yard waste totes and kraft bags to be left at the curb for pickup by the town’s waste hauler.
Changes to the town’s burning code were made in 2019 and prompted by a request from local residents who sought a community-wide ban on leaf burning. However, instead of a ban, the board made changes to extend non-burning times for an additional month.
At the same time, it approved expanding the practice in selected zoning areas—industrial, light industrial, agriculture, agriculture-residential and low density subdivisions like Prairie Oak Estates.
For the areas that fall within the five zoning classes, burning is allowed for nine months of the year, basically from Labor Day to Memorial Day.
No matter the time frame there are rules that apply to all village residents who decide to set a pile of leaves on fire.
• No fire can be lit for landscape waste burning from sunset to sunrise.
• Burning is prohibited when the wind is in excess of 10 miles per hour.
• A fire extinguisher, garden hose or other water source must be available at the site and at all times until the fire is extinguished.
• Fires shall be completely out and not allowed to smolder after substantial completion of the combustion.
Burning is prohibited within 25 feet of any building, structure or property line. Open burning must be supervised by a person no less than 18 years of age, and landscape waste can only be burned on the property where it was created.
The collection of yard waste by the town’s waste hauler continues through the first week of pickup in December.
As of Oct. 1 residents in the village of Diamond can burn leaves and related yard waste until the last day of November.
Diamond also specifies the rules that come along with being able to burn, such as the time of day and only on the property when the yard waste was generated.
Additionally, Diamond’s code makes it clear there is to be no open burning of leaves or other yard waste within 48 hours after a rainfall of more than one-half inch of precipitation.