Outdoor Burning: Alpharetta vs Roswell
How do outdoor burning rules compare between Alpharetta, GA and Roswell, GA?
Alpharetta and Roswell have similar restriction levels.
Alpharetta, GA
Fulton County
Fulton County is in Georgia's 54-county summer burn ban, which prohibits open burning of yard debris and land-clearing waste from May 1 through September 30 annually under EPD rule 391-3-1-.02(5).
View full Alpharetta rules →Roswell, GA
Fulton County
Roswell prohibits all outdoor open burning except activities specifically allowed by the ordinance (recreational cooking fires and certain regulated activities). The Roswell Fire Marshal can suspend even those exemptions during dry or high-wind conditions.
View full Roswell rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Alpharetta | Roswell |
|---|---|---|
| Summer ban | May 1–Sept 30 | - |
| Winter allowed | Oct 1–Apr 30 (natural debris) | - |
| Never allowed | Garbage, plastics, tires | - |
| Code Article | - | Roswell Code Art. 8.3 |
| Fire Code | - | 2018 IFC + Georgia amendments |
| Open Burning | - | Prohibited by default |
| May-Sep Restriction | - | Statewide metro Atlanta burn restrictions |
| Yard Debris | - | Use curbside pickup, not burning |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Alpharetta FAQ
Do I need a burn permit?
No permit is required in unincorporated Fulton for legal natural-debris burning in winter — but call Georgia Forestry Commission first.
Can I burn stumps?
No — tree stumps and trunks are always prohibited.
Roswell FAQ
Can I burn leaves in my Roswell backyard?
No. Roswell prohibits residential open burning under Art. 8.3, and state EPD rules also prohibit burning yard debris in Fulton County from May 1 to September 30.
Is there a burn permit available in Roswell?
Not for routine residential burning. The Fire Marshal can authorize certain regulated burns (training, agriculture) but the city does not issue homeowner brush-burning permits.
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