Outdoor Cooking in Georgia (2026)
25 rules on the books across Georgia, 18 cities and counties. Select a rule to read the full details.
Severity: Few Restrictions · Light Restrictions · Some Restrictions · Significant Restrictions · Heavy Restrictions
BBQ & Propane Rules
When you can use a propane or charcoal grill on a balcony, deck, or patio. Many fire codes prohibit propane on multi-family balconies; some cities ban charcoal anywhere within 10 feet of a building.
Chatham County
Some RestrictionsBackyard grilling is allowed in Chatham County. Cooking food is an express exception to the open-burning rule (Code…
Read full rule →Columbus
Some RestrictionsIn Columbus, Georgia's mobile home parks and travel trailer courts, cooking shelters and barbecue pits must be sited…
Read full rule →DeKalb County
Some RestrictionsIn unincorporated DeKalb County, it's illegal to ignite any fire, including a grill, within four feet of a combustible…
Read full rule →Dunwoody
Some RestrictionsDunwoody bans open fires and grills in city parks and recreation facilities except in areas the parks director has…
Read full rule →Roswell
Some RestrictionsRoswell limits outdoor cooking fires to a pit, grill or barbeque no more than 3 feet across with 2 feet of fuel, kept…
Read full rule →Stonecrest
Some RestrictionsIn the City of Stonecrest, Sec. 12-146(a)(1) of the Code bans charcoal burners and other open-flame cooking devices…
Read full rule →Fayette County
Few RestrictionsInstalling or swapping out a gas grill or barbeque on a one- or two-family home in unincorporated Fayette County…
Read full rule →Smoker Rules
Rules for backyard smokers, pellet grills, and wood-fired ovens including smoke-nuisance enforcement, time-of-day limits, and HOA restrictions.
Brookhaven
Some RestrictionsIn the City of Brookhaven, Georgia, § 16-36(c)(7) makes it unlawful to light or use any open fire, smoker or grill in a…
Read full rule →Chatham County
Some RestrictionsBackyard smokers are allowed in Chatham County; cooking food is an express exception to the open-burning ordinance…
Read full rule →Effingham County
Some RestrictionsEffingham County's open-burning ordinance defines an 'outdoor fire containment device' to expressly include a smoker…
Read full rule →Gwinnett County
Some RestrictionsCharcoal, wood, and gas grills in unincorporated Gwinnett must stay off combustible balconies and 10 feet from…
Read full rule →Hall County
Some RestrictionsHall County's open-burning ban in § 8.110.010 carves out recreational fires and cooking food for immediate human…
Read full rule →South Fulton
Some RestrictionsSouth Fulton bans charcoal burners and other open-flame cooking devices on combustible balconies, and everywhere else…
Read full rule →Stonecrest
Some RestrictionsRunning a wood or charcoal smoker outdoors in the City of Stonecrest falls under Sec. 12-146(b) of the Code, the…
Read full rule →Alpharetta
Light RestrictionsThe City of Alpharetta bans open burning citywide but carves out outdoor cooking fires and recreational fire pits…
Read full rule →Fayette County
Light RestrictionsUnincorporated Fayette County requires a permit for open burning, but recreational cooking fires such as smokers…
Read full rule →Forsyth County
Light RestrictionsCharcoal grills and cooking fires need no county permit, but chimneas, fire bowls and outdoor fireplaces must burn only…
Read full rule →Glynn County
Light RestrictionsUnincorporated Glynn County bans open burning countywide, but cooking food for immediate human consumption on a grill…
Read full rule →Smyrna
Light RestrictionsIn the City of Smyrna, Georgia, the outdoor burning restrictions do not apply to grilling or cooking with charcoal…
Read full rule →Bartow County
Few RestrictionsUnincorporated Bartow County exempts cooking on a typical grill or smoker, and lighter fluid used to ignite charcoal…
Read full rule →Columbus
Few RestrictionsColumbus, Georgia's open-burning ban carves out cooking food for immediate human consumption, so backyard grills and…
Read full rule →Floyd County
Few RestrictionsUnincorporated Floyd County exempts cooking with typical grills or smokers from its open burning ban, under Floyd…
Read full rule →Outdoor Kitchen Permits
Building permits for built-in outdoor kitchens, including gas line installation, electrical, plumbing, structural permits, and setback rules from the main house.
Roswell
Some RestrictionsRoswell's Unified Development Code classifies an outdoor kitchen, defined as a permanent outdoor or covered area used…
Read full rule →Fayette County
Light RestrictionsOutdoor kitchens and fireplaces are a permitted residential accessory use in unincorporated Fayette County, and an…
Read full rule →South Fulton
Light RestrictionsSouth Fulton lists outdoor kitchens as a customary accessory structure to a single-family dwelling under Sec. 303.02…
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