Backyard recreational and cooking fires are allowed in South Fulton with no permit and no fee under Sec. 13-4002, as long as they stay small and contained. They must follow Sec. 13-4001 standards (untreated wood, no plastics/oils, attended) and the broader open-burning limits in Sec. 13-4004.
Recreational backyard fires in the City of South Fulton are governed by Title 13, Chapter 4 (Open Burning), adopted by Ordinance No. 2018-009. Sec. 13-4002(a)(4) lists 'recreational/cooking fires: no permit/no fee,' allowed for 'small contained fires for recreational purposes or cooking food for immediate human consumption, e.g., campfires and barbecues.' This exempts a typical backyard campfire, chiminea, or store-bought fire pit from the special-permit requirement that Sec. 13-4001(a) otherwise applies to open burning. The general standards in Sec. 13-4001(b) still apply: materials such as heavy oils, gasoline, asphaltic materials, plastic, and rubber may not be used to start or maintain a fire; burning must be on private property and must not interfere with traffic; and no burning may violate federal EPA or Georgia EPD restrictions, including the state minimum fire safety standards. Sec. 13-4001(a)(4) (warming fires) further signals the city's intent that contained fires be attended by a person over 17 and use only untreated wood. Although the weekend/holiday and weather limits in Sec. 13-4004 are written for permitted open burning, the fire marshal retains authority under Sec. 13-4004(a) to prohibit any or all outdoor fires when atmospheric conditions or local circumstances make them hazardous, and the state summer burn ban (May 1-Sept 30) restricts yard-debris fires in Fulton County.
A backyard fire that grows uncontained, burns prohibited materials, produces dense smoke, or is left unattended falls outside the recreational exemption and becomes unlawful open burning. Under Sec. 13-4001(c) violators are cited and, on conviction, punished by fine or imprisonment under the city Code and Charter, and the fire marshal may order the fire extinguished.
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