If you’ve been holding off on burning that pile of leaves or yard debris, the wait is almost over. Wednesday, September 30, marks the final day of Georgia’s annual summer open burning ban, meaning outdoor burning will once again be allowed in Chattooga County beginning tomorrow, Thursday, October 1.
The Georgia Environmental Protection Division’s summer burn ban runs from May 1 through September 30 in 54 counties, including Chattooga, Floyd, Walker and Gordon counties. The restrictions are intended to reduce pollutants that contribute to ground-level ozone during the warmer months.
Beginning Thursday, residents may again burn hand-piled natural vegetation collected on their property, such as leaves and yard debris, without obtaining a Georgia Forestry Commission permit. However, state fire-safety requirements still apply.
Burn piles must be at least 25 feet from woodlands, forestland or fields containing flammable vegetation and at least 50 feet from homes, barns, sheds and other structures. Burning must take place between sunrise and sunset, and someone must remain with the fire until it is completely extinguished. Residents are also required to take reasonable precautions to keep the fire from escaping.
Permits are still required for certain other types of burning, including forestry, agricultural and land-clearing burns. The year-round prohibition against burning household garbage also remains in effect.
Residents should also remember that weather conditions can affect whether burning is safe. Dry vegetation, low humidity and wind can quickly increase wildfire danger even when burning is otherwise permitted.
The summer ban on outdoor burning in 54 northern Georgia counties will be lifted on Thursday, October 1, 2026. The annual restrictions are imposed by the Georgia Environmental Protection Division from May 1 through the end of September to protect air quality from emissions that may increase ground level ozone during the hot summer months.
The 54 counties whose burn bans will be lifted on October 1 are: Banks, Barrow, Bartow, Bibb, Butts, Carroll, Catoosa, Chattooga, Cherokee, Clarke, Clayton, Cobb, Columbia, Coweta, Crawford, Dawson, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Floyd, Forsyth, Fulton, Gordon, Gwinnett, Hall, Haralson, Heard, Henry, Houston, Jackson, Jasper, Jones, Lamar, Lumpkin, Madison, Meriwether, Monroe, Morgan, Newton, Oconee, Paulding, Peach, Pickens, Pike, Polk, Putnam, Richmond, Rockdale, Spalding, Troup, Twiggs, Upson, Walker and Walton.
“The fall months offer better air quality for burning,” said Georgia Forestry Commission Director and State Forester John Sabo. “Anyone wishing to use fire outside must be keenly aware of local conditions and fire safety.”
GFC Forest Protection Chief Thomas Barrett echoed the need for safety. “The leading cause of wildfire in Georgia is debris burning that gets out of control. Burners are responsible for their own fires, and while a permit is no longer required for hand-piled natural debris burns, there must be proof that safety precautions were taken in advance, if a wildfire does result.”
The safety precautions mandated by law are: set spacing distances between fires and woodlands and structures, burn times from sunrise to sunset, burner attendance at the fire, and reasonable precautions such as weather awareness and suppression tools. Full details including video tutorials in English and Spanish can be found at GaTrees.org/burn-permits-and-notifications/. Separate notification procedures are required of practitioners conducting prescribed burns.
For more information about safe burning and services of the Georgia Forestry Commission, visit GaTrees.org. For more on air quality regulations, visit https://epd.georgia.gov/air-protection-branch/open-burning-rules-georgia.
The 54 counties whose burn bans will be lifted on October 1 are:
- Banks
- Barrow
- Bartow
- Bibb
- Butts
- Carroll
- Catoosa
- Chattooga
- Cherokee
- Clarke
- Clayton
- Cobb
- Columbia
- Coweta
- Crawford
- Dawson
- DeKalb
- Douglas
- Fayette
- Floyd
- Forsyth
- Fulton
- Gordon
- Gwinnett
- Hall
- Haralson
- Heard
- Henry
- Houston
- Jackson
- Jasper
- Jones
- Lamar
- Lumpkin
- Madison
- Meriwether
- Monroe
- Morgan
- Newton
- Oconee
- Paulding
- Peach
- Pickens
- Pike
- Polk
- Putnam
- Richmond
- Rockdale
- Spalding
- Troup
- Twiggs
- Upson
- Walker
- Walton
