So Ald. Marty Kleefisch wants to set some restrictions to allow residents to still use their backyard pits but not at the expense of other homeowners.

“If someone is burning something that’s consistently annoying their neighbors with smoke and fumes, I think we should be able to act,” said Kleefisch during a Thursday committee-of-the whole meeting.

The city restricts the burning of certain materials like plastic and garbage but does not stipulate the distance a portable pit should be from a neighboring yard.

“An outside pit is literally on the side of their (homeowner’s) yard but within 10 feet of a neighbor’s house,” said Mayor Gerald Bennett.

One possible restriction would limit the distance between pits and a neighbor’s yard, the mayor said.

Kleefisch pointed to several surrounding municipalities who have set rules about backyard burning such as Tinley Park, which stipulates that a pit cannot emit “objectionable” smoke or odor. But like Palos Hills, Palos Heights only restricts what materials can be burned.

Ald. Joan Knox will research what other towns are doing to stem the problem of fire

-pit smoke. The council could discuss restrictions further at next Thursday’s City Council meeting.