§ 54-117. Outdoor burning requiring a permit.

No person shall start or maintain any outdoor burning listed in this section without first obtaining a permit issued by Cobb County Fire and Emergency Services. Permits may be revoked or withheld by the fire chief for just cause.

(a)

Bonfire. A bonfire shall not be located within a minimum of 50 feet of a structure or other combustible material, and shall be a minimum of 100 feet from property lines. There shall be a 50-foot clear area around the fire area, clear of combustible materials, debris or material that could cause fire to spread. Distances may be increased by the fire chief depending on the size of the bonfire. Bonfires shall be a maximum of 12 feet in each length, width, and height. Burning is allowed between 10:00 a.m. and 10:30 p.m. The permit will be valid for specified dates and times.

(b)

Yard waste (large). The following conditions shall govern the open burning of a large yard waste fire:

(1)

Burning is allowed between 10:00 a.m. to one hour before sunset, October 1 through April 30.

(2)

The fire pile shall not be larger than 12 feet by 12 feet and shall not be located within 100 feet of any property line or structure owned by the property owner performing the burn.

(3)

There shall be a 50-foot clear area around the fire area, clear of debris or material that could cause the fire to spread.

(4)

The fire shall not be located within 300 feet of a structure that is not owned by the property owner performing the burn.

(5)

No stumps or root balls shall be burned.

(6)

The fire must be completely extinguished, using water, covering with dirt or using another acceptable method.

(7)

The permit will be valid for specified dates, not to exceed seven days, with a minimum of seven days required between permits issued for the same property.

(8)

Multiple fire piles on the same property shall not be burned simultaneously and each location of a large yard waste fire must comply with all applicable provisions of this article.

(c)

Open burning for purposes of land clearing. The following conditions shall govern open burning for the purposes of land clearing:

(1)

Open burning for the purpose of land clearing is permitted from October 1 through April 30.

(2)

After the site is prepared, the owner shall contact 770-528-8315 to schedule a site inspection and obtain a permit prior to any burning.

(3)

An air curtain destructor, which is constructed, installed, and operating in a manner consistent with good air pollution control practices for minimizing emissions of fly ash and smoke, is required for open burning for the purposes of land clearing. See Figures 1—5.

(4)

The location of the air curtain destructor shall be at least 300 feet from any occupied structure or public road. An air curtain destructor used solely for utility clearing or road clearing may be located at a lesser distance upon approval of the fire chief.

(5)

No more than one air curtain destructor shall be operated within a ten-acre area at one time, unless there is a minimum of 1,000 feet between any two air curtain destructors.

(6)

A pit shall be excavated to the following dimensions: 8 feet wide × 12—15 feet deep × 15—30 feet long (the length is dependent upon the length of the ACD manifold). See Figures 1 and 2. In no case shall the eight-foot width be exceeded. The pit must be excavated so as to have at least three vertical sides in soil capable of maintaining vertical walls 15 feet in depth without failure. Walls shall not be undercut during excavation. If a front end loader is used for the excavation, the end of the pit used for ingress and egress, as well as the ramp, shall be filled with dirt prior to the start of the burn. Any accumulation of water in the pit shall be removed prior to loading the pit.

(7)

The manifold shall be placed and properly supported on a berm of soil (one to one and one-half feet high), and the space between the manifold and ground shall be sealed. See Figures 1 and 2. The manifold shall be positioned to direct the air curtain at an imaginary line 24 and 36 inches below the top of the opposite wall.

(8)

A "stop guide" or restraint shall be provided at the loading site of the pit to keep the loader from getting too close to the pit during operation. See Figures 3 and 5. If spalling or "cave off" of the pit walls occurs during operation, a new pit shall be constructed and the existing pit filled with soil.

(9)

Burning shall occur in the pit, with the pit initially being loaded half full. Only wood waste consisting of trees, logs, large brush and stumps which are relatively free of soil shall be burned. Leaves, sawdust, other densely packed wood wastes, paper, and chemically treated, coated, or impregnated wood shall not be burned.

(10)

In igniting the wood, up to one-half gallon of fuel oil may be utilized. Tires or other rubber products, plastic, heavy oils, highly volatile solvents such as mineral spirits or gasoline, and asphaltic-based or impregnated materials shall not be used for ignition or to maintain the operation of the air curtain destructor.

(11)

The fire must be at full intensity prior to intermittent charging. With respect to intermittent charging, the pit shall not be overloaded, so as to protrude above the air curtain.

(12)

Ash shall be removed to maintain efficient and proper combustion, and shall not be allowed to build up in the pit to higher than one-third of the pit's depth or to the point that ash impedes combustion and is blown out of the pit, whichever occurs first.

(13)

The cleaning out of the air curtain destructor pit shall be performed in a manner to prevent fugitive dust.

(14)

The air curtain destructor shall not be fired before 10:00 a.m. and the fire must be completely extinguished, using water, covering with dirt or using another acceptable method, at least one hour before sunset.

(15)

No open burning for the purposes of land clearing is allowed at night, on weekends, or on holidays.

(16)

The permit will be valid for specified dates, with a maximum of 30 days.

(d)

[Tending of outdoor burning required.] Any type of outdoor burning referenced in this article must be attended by an adult who must be watching the fire at all times. An appropriate means for containing and/or extinguishing the fire shall be provided.

(e)

[Extinguishing outdoor fire.] When extinguishing an outdoor fire, no smoldering or hot coals shall remain unless otherwise permitted in this Code.

(Amd. of 2-24-09; Amd. of 2-26-13)

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(Ord. of 2-27-07)