Georgia Burn Ban May 1 - September 30 

The Georgia Department of Natural Resources has issued a ban on open burning May 1 – September 30 of each year. Fifty-four counties in Georgia (including Walton County) are affected. City of Social Circle Fire and Emergency Services are responsible for the enforcement of this state-issued burning ban in the City of Social Circle 

From May 1 – September 30, you may not burn leaves, tree limbs, or other yard waste, forest land, or use air curtain destructors for land clearing.

Burning Allowed October 1 - April 30

• Burning must be attended by an adult who must be watching the fire at all times. Never leave a fire
• unattended.
• No 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. 
• Burning is allowed from sunrise to sunset. 
• A water hose long enough to reach the fire must be on hand and ready for use.
• Fires may not be started with petroleum-based products.
• Only clean wood may be burned. Clean wood means natural wood which has not been painted, varnished, or coated with a similar material; has not been pressure treated with preservatives; and does not contain resins or glues as in plywood or other composite wood products.
• Yard waste (small) fire must be at least 50 feet from all structures, including fences of combustible material, and 25 feet from fire and woodlands. 
• Burning of garbage is prohibited. Garbage is any waste material that includes but is not limited to plastic products, Styrofoam, fiberglass, recycling wire (burned to access metal), tires, clothing, furniture, mattresses, boxes, papers, stumps, root balls, and kudzu vines.
• Any yard debris that is moved from one property to another cannot be burned. For information regarding alternative methods to dispose of yard waste, contact the Georgia Environmental Protection Division at (404) 362-2537.
• Even if all guidelines for burning are followed, you may be required to extinguish the fire if it adversely interferes with another’s enjoyment of life, use of property, or if someone with a health problem is affected.

NOTE: During the burning period, fire officials may prohibit burning at times when atmospheric conditions or local circumstances make burning hazardous.

 Types of Fires Allowed All Year

• Recreational Fires
  • 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 from sunrise to sunset.
  • 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 50 feet from all structures.
  • Recreational fires shall not be started with petroleum-based products.

• Fires exempt from the burning ordinance: 
  • Fires burned for the purpose of cooking or heat.
  • Fires in an outdoor fireplace, chimenea, or similar device burning clean wood.