Backyard smokers are allowed in Chatham County; cooking food is an express exception to the open-burning ordinance (Code Sec. 21-306). No local ordinance targets smoker smoke or odor, though Georgia's Fire Code restricts charcoal and solid-fuel cookers on combustible apartment balconies. Keep smokers safely contained and attended.
A charcoal, wood or pellet smoker used to cook food is covered by the Sec. 21-306(2)(e) exception for cooking food for immediate human consumption, so it is legal at single-family homes, provided it burns only your own fuel and is safely contained. Under Georgia's adopted International Fire Code Section 308, charcoal and other open-flame or solid-fuel cooking devices may not be used or kept on combustible balconies or within 10 feet of combustible construction at apartment or condo (Group R) buildings, except one- and two-family dwellings or sprinklered buildings. Chatham has no ordinance specifically regulating drifting smoke or odor, though a persistent nuisance could be addressed under the county nuisance-abatement code (Chapter 21, Article VII).
A smoker that escapes control violates Sec. 21-306 (fine up to $500 and/or 30 days, Sec. 21-309); balcony use violating IFC Section 308 is a state fire-code misdemeanor. Chronic smoke nuisance may be pursued under Chapter 21 nuisance abatement.
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