Permit Not Required, Unauthorized Outdoor Burning:

First Violation: Advised of corrective actions, written warning.

Second Violation: Including failure to correct first violation, summons issued and a fine of $100.00 assessed.

Third Violation: Including failure to correct prior violations, summons issued and a fine of $250.00 assessed.

Fourth Violation: Including failure to correct prior violations, summons issued and a fine of $500.00 assessed.

Fifth and any Subsequent Violations: Including failure to correct prior violations, summons issued and a fine of $ 1,000.00 assessed and/or six months in jail.

Permit Required, Bonfire, Land Clearing, Yard Waste (large):

First Violation: Summons shall be issued and a fine of $500.00 will be assessed.

Second Violation: Summons shall be issued and a fine of $1,000.00 assessed.

Third and any Subsequent Violations: Summons shall be issued and a fine of $1,000.00 assessed and/or six months in jail.

For more information regarding the burning ban or air quality control, visit the Fire Department’s website at www.cobbfire.org and navigate to the Fire Marshal’s section, or contact the Georgia Environmental Protection Division at 404-363-7000 or 404-362-2671.

Types of Fires Allowed All Year

Certain types of fires are allowed all year, even during the burn ban, as listed below.

• Recreational fire means an outdoor fire in which only logs or clean wood are being burned and has a total fuel area of 3 feet or less in diameter and 2 feet or less in height for pleasure, religious ceremonial, cooking, warmth or similar purposes, and which is not used to dispose of garbage or yard waste.

— Recreational fires are allowed between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 10:30 p.m.

— No recreational burning is allowed on windy days (10 mph or higher) or on days when the atmospheric conditions (cloudy, overcast, or raining) would cause the smoke to remain low to the ground.

— Recreational fires must be attended by an adult who must be watching the fire at all times. Never leave the fire unattended.

— A water hose or fire extinguisher must be on hand that can reach the fire, and can be ready to use if needed.

— Recreational fires must be at least 25 feet from all structures.

— Recreational fires shall not be started with petroleum-based products.

— Some common sense shall be used when determining if a fire qualifies as a recreational fire. People sitting around a small campfire would be considered a recreational fire. A homeowner with a large pile of brush in their yard and frequently having a small fire is not a recreational fire.

• Bonfire – an outdoor fire larger than a recreational fire in which only logs or clean wood are being burned for ceremonial purposes. A bonfire permit is required to be issued by the Cobb County Fire Marshal’s Office. Please call 770-528-8310 or 8312 to request an inspection and obtain a bonfire permit. Bonfires must be 50’ from structures, 100’ from property lines, and completely out by 10:30 p.m.
  
  

Types of Fires Exempt from the Burn Ordinance

• Fires burned for the purpose of cooking food for immediate human consumption, e.g., barbecue grill or pit.
• Fires in an outdoor fireplace, chimenea, fire bowl, or other similar device burning logs or clean wood only.

If you have a complaint or problem regarding burning in your area, please call 911.

Restricted Burn Areas
Additionally, there are several locations in Cobb County designated as restricted burn areas. Please see the map links below for the current burn ban locations.(Map files are large, if you are on a slow internet connection, it could take a couple of minutes to download)