Outdoor burning rules in South Fulton, 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.
South Fulton bars open burning without a special permit from the fire marshal, with limited exceptions (Sec. 13-4001). Permitted burns must occur sunup (7:00 a.m.) to sundown (6:00 p.m.), never on weekends, nights, or holidays (Sec. 13-4004). Georgia's May 1-Sept 30 summer burn ban also covers Fulton County.
Outdoor burning in the City of South Fulton is regulated by Title 13, Chapter 4 (Open Burning), enacted by Ordinance No. 2018-009. Sec. 13-4001(a) states that no person may cause or permit open burning anywhere in the city 'without a special permit issued by the fire marshal,' except for narrow categories such as cooking fires, firefighter training, approved flame-making equipment, and small warming/recreational fires. Where a permit applies, Sec. 13-4002 sets out permitted purposes (leaf reduction on the premises where leaves fall, recognized agricultural burning, and burning of forest land by the owner), while recreational and cooking fires need no permit. Sec. 13-4001(b)(5) requires that 'no open burning shall begin before sunup (7:00 AM) and must be extinguished by sundown (6:00 PM).' Sec. 13-4004 adds that no burning is permitted on Saturdays, Sundays, nights, or holidays (Christmas, New Year's, Thanksgiving, and the 4th of July) - with an exception that only leaves may be burned on Saturdays - and bars burning when winds blow toward populated areas, during fog, rain, or for at least a day after a cold front, and during any declared air-pollution episode. Layered on top is Georgia's annual summer open burn ban (May 1 through September 30), which the Georgia EPD and Forestry Commission apply to Fulton County and restricts burning hand-piled yard and land-clearing debris.
Open burning without a required permit, outside the sunup-to-sundown window, or on a prohibited day violates Title 13, Ch. 4. Sec. 13-4001(c) provides that violators are cited and, on conviction, punished by fine or imprisonment under the city Code and Charter; the fire chief, fire marshal, or any law enforcement officer may order the fire extinguished, and summer-burn-ban violations are enforced under Georgia EPD rules.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
south-fulton-ga
South Fulton's code defines composting as treating vegetative matter (leaves, trees, plant material) into a soil amendment and excludes animal waste, food, s...
south-fulton-ga
South Fulton has no ordinance specifically permitting or banning residential artificial (synthetic) turf. Installations are subject to the City's general zon...
south-fulton-ga
South Fulton does not require or prohibit native-plant landscaping for homeowners. The City's tree and development rules encourage ecologically compatible, n...
south-fulton-ga
Rainwater harvesting is legal in South Fulton; the City has no ordinance restricting it. Georgia state plumbing code governs collection systems, allows non-p...
south-fulton-ga
South Fulton does not publish its own outdoor watering schedule; landscape irrigation follows Georgia's statewide rule. Under the Georgia Water Stewardship A...
south-fulton-ga
South Fulton's Minimum Property Standards (Sec. 3-3001) require weeds to be cut and contained. Vegetation over six inches on developed property is prohibited...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Fulton County.
See how other cities in Fulton County handle outdoor burning.
See how South Fulton's outdoor burning rules stack up against other locations.
Quick Compare
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.