Media release from the Georgia Forestry Commission:
Outdoor burning restrictions in 54 northern Georgia counties will be lifted on Wednesday, October 1, 2025. The Georgia Environmental Protection Division limits burning in these areas from May 1 until the end of September to control emission-related ozone levels that may rise in summer.
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.
“Air quality is better for burning in fall,” said Georgia Forestry Commission Director Johnny Sabo. “Local conditions are always the determining factor for a safe burn, so weather awareness and preparedness are essential.”
The risk of wildfire increases in autumn, and GFC Protection Chief Thomas Barrett said safety rules must be followed when burning. “Debris burning that gets out of control is the leading cause of wildfire,” he said. “If that happens, burners must be able to prove they took precautions before lighting their outdoor fire.”
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.
