Page 27 - Georgia Forestry - Issue 4 - Fall 2021

Georgia’s Changing Burn Notification Laws
By Stasia Kelly
A fter the first hint of autumn’s cooler temperatures, it doesn’t take long before a land- owner’s thoughts turn to burning. Nothing compares to the fragrance of an outdoor fire — or the satisfaction of making ashes out of piles of yard debris.
Seasoned burners know that following basic safety steps before lighting the fire is one of their first responsibilities, and in years past, notifying the Georgia Forestry Commission (GFC) was another. This year, however, going online or calling the GFC to get the backyard debris burn documented is no longer required.
The change went into effect on July 1, after the Georgia legislature approved Senate Bill 119, which revised Georgia code section 12-6-90. Specifically, it eliminates the need to notify the GFC when a person, firm, corporation or association intends to burn hand-piled vegetation/yard debris. Important fire prevention precautions for burners, however, were added.
Many Georgians may just now be learning of this change. For 54 mostly north Georgia counties, a burn ban was in effect from May 1–September 30. The Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) mandates the restrictions annually to protect air quality from emissions that may increase ground-level ozone.
What has not changed is the requirement to get a permit for land-clearing burns for residential or commercial development. Burning of debris generated by machine clearing of an area for the purpose of land clearing or establishing a small garden spot is considered a land type change. These are subject to the EPD land-clearing burning rules and may require the use of an air curtain destructor, depending on the county where the clearing is planned. You must notify the local GFC county ranger when planning these activities. Pine straw producers must still notify GFC when conducting silviculture burns.
It’s also important to note that local burning ordinances (city/county/municipality) concerning open/debris burning supersede these code requirements.
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