Milton residents on AG-1 zoned parcels of one acre or more can resume open burning starting Thursday, Oct. 1, after a five-month statewide ban ends.

The Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) restricts outdoor burns in 54 counties, including Fulton County, between May 1 and Sept. 30 each year to reduce wildfire risk and protect air quality. That restriction expires at the end of the day Wednesday, Sept. 30, opening a burn window that runs through Friday, April 30, 2027. The city issues the reminder each fall when the statewide restriction resets.

The rules are specific. Smoke from any burn cannot reach or exceed 40 percent opacity. Before lighting a fire, residents must check the Georgia Forestry Commission's daily fire danger rating map; burning is prohibited when the rating hits 3, 4 or 5.

Fire Marshal Johnathan Matyasich of the Milton Fire-Rescue Department outlined additional safety requirements in a city announcement posted Tuesday, Sept. 29:

• Burn piles must sit at least 50 feet from any structure, with 25 feet of cleared space around them.
• Piles should stay small, generally no more than 3 to 4 feet across.
• Do not use flammable liquids to start a fire.
• Burn during the day on clear days, not early morning or at night, when smoke lingers.
• Never leave a fire unattended.
• Notify neighbors before burning and be ready to extinguish the fire if it causes problems.
• Keep protective equipment, a rake, shovel, hose or extinguisher nearby.

"As the burn ban is lifted, we encourage residents to enjoy the opportunity to conduct outdoor burning safely and responsibly," Matyasich said in the announcement. "Taking a few simple precautions … and never leaving a fire unattended can make a significant difference in preventing an outdoor burn from becoming an emergency."

The burn-ban lift applies only to AG-1 properties. Residents on all other zoned parcels cannot burn material outdoors at any time of year, except for cooking and recreational fires. No one in any Milton zoning district may burn treated wood, construction debris, garbage or non-vegetative items, regardless of the season.

Residents unsure of their property's zoning can check the city's zoning map at miltonga.gov/home/showdocument?id=7776. Questions about open burns can go to the Fire Marshal's office at 678-242-2541 or [email protected].

Upcoming: Open burning on eligible AG-1 parcels runs Oct. 1 through Friday, April 30, 2027.