Atlanta, GA Fire Regulations: Outdoor Burning (2026)
Outdoor burning rules in Atlanta, GA, also called the burn ban, open burning, or fire restriction ordinance, set when you can burn yard waste, debris, or run a recreational fire.
Key Facts
- Prohibited
- Construction, stump, and land-clearing debris burning
- Exceptions
- Cooking fires and recreational fire pits
- Code section
- Fire Prevention Code § 105.6.32
- Enforcer
- Atlanta Fire Rescue Department fire marshal
- Penalty
- Up to $1,000 fine, 6 months jail
Summary
Atlanta prohibits burning construction debris, stump and land-clearing debris, and virtually all other outdoor fires within city limits. Only cooking fires and recreational fire pits are exempt under the Fire Prevention Code's operational-permit rules.
105.6.32 Open Burning. The burning of construction debris, organic debris from stumps, branches, and other land clearing efforts and any and all other outdoor burning, other than Cooking Fires and Recreational Fire Pits are prohibited within the city limits."
(11)Sub-Paragraph 105.6.40 Pyrotechnic special effects material Paragraph 105.6 (Required Operational Permits), Section 105 (Permits) in the Fire Prevention Code of the City of Atlanta shall read as follows:
Full Breakdown
The Atlanta Fire Prevention Code, adopted from the International Fire Code and amended locally, bars burning construction debris, organic debris from stumps and branches, land-clearing waste, and any other outdoor burning inside city limits: the only exceptions are cooking fires and recreational fire pits. The rule sits inside Section 105.6.32's required-operational-permits list, so open burning isn't just unpermitted, it's flatly prohibited citywide. The Atlanta Fire Rescue Department's fire marshal enforces the fire code; because outdoor burning falls under the general Code of Ordinances, violations carry the citywide misdemeanor penalty rather than a burning-specific fine schedule.
Violations & Fines
Violating the fire code is a misdemeanor: up to a $1,000 fine, six months in jail, public-works duty, or home confinement; each day of continued burning counts as a separate offense (Code § 1-8).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I have a bonfire or burn yard debris in Atlanta?
Are recreational fire pits legal in Atlanta?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Atlanta
How Atlanta compares: Cities with the Strictest Outdoor Burning Rules·Compare Atlanta to another location·View the Georgia fire regulations overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Outdoor Burning in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Fulton County handle outdoor burning.