Chatham County, GA Fire Regulations: Outdoor Burning (2026)
Outdoor burning rules in Chatham 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
- Governing code
- Chatham County Code Sec. 21-306
- Near cities/subdivisions
- Open burning prohibited within one mile
- Allowed materials
- Own leaves, storm debris, recreation
- Summer burn ban
- Chatham not among the 54 counties
- GFC permit
- Not required for hand-piled leaves/limbs
Summary
Chatham County Code Sec. 21-306 prohibits open burning within one mile of any city boundary or platted residential subdivision. Residents inside that zone may still burn only their own leaves, storm debris, or recreational and cooking fires. Chatham is NOT among Georgia's 54-county May-September summer burn ban counties.
No person, firm or corporation shall cause, suffer or allow to permit open burning as defined herein within one mile of the boundary of any municipal corporation nor any residential subdivision platted by the County or any municipality located within the County.
Full Breakdown
Open burning means any outdoor fire from which the products of combustion are emitted directly into the open air without passing through a stack, chimney or duct (Sec. 21-301). Section 21-306(2) states no one shall cause, suffer or allow open burning within one mile of the boundary of any municipal corporation nor any residential subdivision platted by the County or a municipality. Residents in that zone may burn only their own leaves, weed/pest/disease abatement, storm debris, recreational or cooking fires, and small fire pits. Georgia no longer requires a Forestry Commission permit for hand-piled leaves and limbs, but such fires must stay 25 feet from woods, 50 feet from structures, be attended, and burn only sunrise to sunset.
Violations & Fines
Illegal open burning is a Code offense; on conviction, a fine up to $500 and/or up to 30 days, each day a separate offense (Sec. 21-309). The Georgia Forestry Commission or any public-safety official may shut down a hazardous burn.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I burn leaves in my Chatham County yard?
Do I need a burn permit in Chatham County?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Chatham County
How Chatham County compares: Cities with the Strictest Outdoor Burning Rules·Compare Chatham County to another location·View the Georgia fire regulations overview
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