South Fulton, GA Outdoor Cooking: Smoker Rules (2026)

The City of South Fulton has no smoker-specific ordinance; smokers fall under the cooking-fire provisions of Title 13, Chapter 4 (Open Burning). Sec. 13-4001(a)(1) exempts 'open burning in a reasonable fashion for the purpose of cooking food for immediate human consumption' from the open-burning permit requirement, and Sec. 13-4002(a)(4) classifies recreational and cooking fires (campfires and barbecues) as 'no permit/no fee.' A charcoal, pellet, or wood smoker used to cook food therefore needs no city permit at a residence. The same restriction that governs grills applies: except at one- and two-family dwellings, it is unlawful to use charcoal burners or other open-flame cooking devices on combustible balconies or within ten feet of combustible construction (Sec. 13-4001(a)(1)) - so smokers on apartment/condo balconies are limited. The general open-burning standards in Sec. 13-4001(b) prohibit using heavy oils, gasoline, asphaltic materials, plastic, or rubber, and require burning on private property without interfering with traffic; smoke must not be dense or produce obnoxious odors (the standard the city applies to warming and recreational fires). Under Sec. 13-4004(a) the fire marshal may prohibit any outdoor fire when atmospheric conditions or local circumstances make it hazardous. There is no city ordinance regulating smoker smoke as a nuisance beyond these fire-code limits.