Paulding County, GA Fire Regulations: Fire Pits & Backyard Fires (2026)

Section 58-143(c) of the Fire Prevention chapter carves campfires, bonfires and "recreational fires within masonry or other prefabricated residential firepits" out of the county's general residential outdoor-burning requirements, meaning fire pit users do not have to call the automated outdoor-burn registration line at 770-505-2876 or keep the 50-foot structure setback that applies to bigger burn piles.

Instead, § 58-143(d) sets the standard that governs these small recreational fires: a campfire is allowed only for recreational purposes or cooking food for immediate human consumption, may burn both before and after dark, and must be contained inside a ring, pit, or rock border no larger than three feet by three feet. Only clean, natural materials are permitted; grass clippings and leaves cannot be burned in a fire pit. The fire must sit at least 25 feet from any structure and be attended by an adult at all times, and it shall be extinguished thoroughly when no longer in attended use, meaning it cannot be left smoldering unattended even briefly.

Larger recreational fires move into the bonfire category under § 58-143(e), which caps bonfires at six feet by six feet, requires a 50-foot structure setback, restricts them to civic, educational, religious or similar organizational events, and requires advance approval from the fire marshal limited to the hours of 6:00 p.m. to midnight. The fire chief also retains blanket authority under § 58-143(f) to prohibit any outdoor fire, including fire pits, when weather or local conditions make burning hazardous, and a burn that becomes a nuisance or safety hazard can still be shut down even if it otherwise met the size and setback rules.