Angola council amends open‑burning ordinance, removes permit requirement for some backyard fires

The Angola Common Council on July 7 approved Ordinance 17‑82‑2025, which amends City of Angola Code of Ordinances Title 9, Chapter 9.05 (general offenses, open burning) to remove the local burn‑permit requirement for certain backyard/campfire‑type fires.

City staff and the fire chief said the city’s 1993 burn ordinance included a permit requirement that the department found difficult to enforce and that the municipal permitting step duplicated or conflicted with state open‑burning rules administered under Indiana law and IDEM guidance. The chief said he and city counsel reviewed state guidance and municipal practice and recommended removing the local permit requirement for campfire‑type fires while continuing to prohibit refuse, construction debris and other non‑campfire materials.

Council member Coffey voiced concern that the state statute referenced in the discussion might be a preclusion statute that limits local authority to add a permit requirement; Coffey asked for further legal analysis and suggested tabling the item. City counsel (Kim) and staff said they believed the proposed ordinance was consistent with state law, and council proceeded to a vote.

The ordinance passed on roll call with one no vote: Coffey voted no; Olson, Sharkey, Dow and McNervey voted yes. Council members and staff noted that enforcement resources are limited and that the change is intended to reduce unnecessary permitting for occasional campfires. Staff said they will continue to coordinate with IDEM guidance and the city attorney as needed.

Vote: Council member Coffey — No; Council members Olson, Sharkey, Dow, McNervey — Yes.

Authority referenced on the record included Title 9, Chapter 9.05 of the City of Angola Code of Ordinances (open burning) and an unspecified state statute regarding open burning; the transcript did not record a precise state code citation.