Can You Burn Leaves in Cobb County?

If your front and back yards are barely visible under mountains of countless leaves, it can be tempting to rake them up, stuff them in a big barrel, and set them all on fire to get rid of them.

Not so fast, Cobb County fire officials warn.

Fortunately for aspiring leaf burners, the mandatory outdoor burning barn that goes into effect every May is lifted every September. However, burning can be restricted on a day-to-day basis depending on weather conditions. Outdoor burns are also subject to several regulations, all of which can be read here.

The regulations that deal with individuals burning leaves are pretty straightforward, so let’s take a look at them.

For one, all burns must be held between 10 a.m. and an hour before sunset. Whoever is in control of the property at the time the burn begins is responsible for ensuring the burn is done safely and in compliance with all regulations at all times.

Fires cannot be started using any petroleum-based products, and a fire hose long enough to put out the fire must be on hand and ready to be used in case of an emergency.

No pile of leaves meant for burning can exceed 6’ by 6’ in size. If you need to include tree limbs in the burn pile, make sure they’re no thicker than 6” across. Piles of yard waste meant for burning must be at least 50 feet away from any flammable structure, including fencing, and must be at least 25 feet away from any road with a speed limit above 35 mph.

Burn barrels are not allowed in Cobb County.

If you want to start a leaf burn but still have questions, feel free to reach out to the Cobb County Fire Marshal at (770) 528-8310 or via e-mail to FMOinspections@cobbcounty.org.