Augusta-Richmond County, GA Fire Regulations: Outdoor Burning (2026)
Outdoor burning rules in Augusta-Richmond County, 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
- Burn-free buffer
- 100 feet from residential structures
- Leaf burning
- Only by resident, beyond the buffer
- Permit route
- Georgia Forestry Commission permits beyond buffer
- Structure threshold
- Buildings over 40 square feet
- Penalty
- Misdemeanor under Code Section 1-6-1
Summary
Augusta-Richmond County prohibits outdoor open burning within 100 feet of any residential dwelling or structure, allowing only leaf burning by the property owner or forestry-permitted burns farther out.
Outdoor open burning is prohibited in Augusta-Richmond County within one hundred (100) feet of a residential dwelling or structure. The only outdoor open burning that shall be allowed beyond one hundred (100) feet of residential structures or dwellings shall be the burning of leaves by the residents of property on which the leaves fall, or such other burning for which the Georgia Forestry Commission may issue permits in accordance with the Environmental Protection Division Regulations for Air Quality Control.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Recodification).
Full Breakdown
Augusta-Richmond County Code Sec. 3-3-6 bans outdoor open burning within 100 feet of any residential dwelling or structure. Beyond that 100-foot buffer, the only permitted open burning is leaves burned by the resident whose property they fell on, or burning authorized under a Georgia Forestry Commission permit issued per state Environmental Protection Division air quality rules. A structure counts if it exceeds 40 square feet, covering garages, sheds, barns, and workshops, not just houses. Cooking food outdoors on grills or similar appliances is exempted. Violators are tried as a misdemeanor and face the general penalty set in Section 1-6-1.
Violations & Fines
Violating the outdoor burning ban is a misdemeanor tried under the general penalty set in Code Section 1-6-1.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I burn leaves in my yard in Augusta-Richmond County?
Is grilling or outdoor cooking banned?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Augusta-Richmond County
How Augusta-Richmond County compares: Cities with the Strictest Outdoor Burning Rules·Compare Augusta-Richmond County to another location·View the Georgia fire regulations overview
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