Georgia Outdoor Open Fire Restrictions

As of May 1, you cannot openly burn debris in the state of Georgia.

The Georgia Environmental Protection Division enforces a 54-county burn ban from May 1 to Sept. 30 each year in order to prevent air pollution.

Limiting Ozone Production

According to EPD, Ozone, a greenhouse gas that can cause respiratory irritation, can be formed by the pollutants produced by open burning. Ozone is already at increased levels in Georgia during the summer, and the burn ban is intended to prevent more from being produced.

A major source of these pollutants is the burning of fuels and other combustible materials. The Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) has identified open burning as a significant contributor of the pollutants that form ozone. Therefore, open burning in metro Atlanta and the surrounding areas must be restricted during the summer months. Beginning May 1st and ending September 30th, EPD’s Open Burning Ban will be enforced in 54 Georgia counties.

Details of the Ban

Grills and campfires are not prohibited by the ban, so your summer cookouts and camping trips are not restricted. Agricultural burning, firefighting training, and operating “open flame equipment” are also permissible.

The ban will be lifted on October 1, at which point, all other outdoor burning is allowed throughout the state of Georgia.