You've got a massive pile of yard debris. Maybe it’s those stubborn pine needles that seem to carpet your lawn every October, or perhaps a storm just rolled through Lawrenceville and left you with a mountain of downed limbs. Your first instinct is to grab a match. But wait. Before you strike that light, you absolutely have to know: is today a burn day in Gwinnett County GA?
If you guess wrong, you aren't just looking at a polite "hey, please put that out" from a neighbor. You're looking at potential fines, a visit from the Gwinnett County Fire Sciences division, or worse—starting a brush fire that crawls right up to your siding. Georgia takes its air quality and fire safety incredibly seriously.
The quick answer you came for
Check the daily status. The Gwinnett County government doesn't leave this to chance. They coordinate with the Georgia Forestry Commission and the Environmental Protection Division (EPD).
Basically, the easiest way to get a "yes" or "no" is to call the Gwinnett County Fire Emergency Services Outdoor Burning Information Line at 678.518.4979. It is an automated system updated every single morning. If the recording says "no," don't even think about it. If it says "yes," you still have to follow some pretty annoying, but necessary, rules.
Why the answer changes every single morning
It feels random. One day is sunny and clear, but the county says "no burning." The next day is overcast, and they give you the green light. Why? It's all about the Fire Weather Forecast.
The experts at the Georgia Forestry Commission look at three main things: wind speed, relative humidity, and the "Fuel Moisture" levels. If the wind is whipping at more than 10 or 15 miles per hour, your little leaf pile can turn into a Roman candle in seconds. If the air is too dry (low humidity), sparks travel further.
Then there's the smoke factor. In a densely populated area like Gwinnett—think about the traffic on I-85 or the neighborhoods packed into Suwanee and Duluth—smoke doesn't just disappear. It hangs. On days with "low mixing heights," that smoke stays low to the ground, triggering asthma attacks for your neighbors and creating a hazy mess on the roads.
The Summer Burn Ban is the big one
You can't talk about burning in Gwinnett without mentioning the Summer Burn Ban. This is a non-negotiable state law. From May 1st through September 30th, outdoor burning of yard debris is strictly prohibited in 54 Georgia counties, including Gwinnett.
✨ Don't miss: Boynton Beach Boat Parade: What You Actually Need to Know Before You Go
Why? Ozone.
During the hot Georgia summers, the sun reacts with pollutants to create ground-level ozone. Adding wood smoke to that mix is like pouring gasoline on a fire, environmentally speaking. If you are asking "is today a burn day in Gwinnett County GA" during July, the answer is a hard, flat "No." No exceptions for your "small" pile. No exceptions because you live on five acres in Dacula.
What you can actually burn (and what will get you fined)
Let’s say the recording says today is a burn day. You’re good, right? Mostly. But you can't just throw anything on the fire.
Allowed:
Naturally occurring "vegetative matter." This is a fancy way of saying leaves, limbs, and pine straw that grew on your property.
Forbidden:
- Household garbage (huge no-no).
- Construction debris (no 2x4s, no shingles).
- Tires or rubber.
- Plastic of any kind.
- Pressure-treated wood (the chemicals in that stuff are toxic when burned).
- Paper or cardboard in large quantities.
I've seen people try to burn old pallets. Don't do it. Pallets are often treated with chemicals, and if a fire marshal rolls by and sees those tell-tale blue or orange sparks, or smells something metallic, you’re in for a headache.
The rules of engagement
Even on a legal burn day, Gwinnett County has "conduct" rules. Honestly, they are common sense, but people forget them constantly.
🔗 Read more: Bootcut Pants for Men: Why the 70s Silhouette is Making a Massive Comeback
First, you can only burn between 10:00 AM and one hour before sunset. This ensures the sun is high enough to help the smoke dissipate and gives you enough light to make sure the fire is actually out before you go to bed.
Second, the "50-foot rule." Your fire must be at least 50 feet away from any structure. That includes your house, your neighbor's shed, and your own fence. You also need to keep it 25 feet away from the property line.
Third, you have to be there. You cannot light a fire and then go inside to watch the Falcons game. You need a shovel and a pressurized water hose right next to you the entire time. If the wind picks up, you put it out.
Recreational fires vs. yard debris
There is a loophole. Sorta.
If you aren't trying to get rid of a forest of fallen trees and you just want a backyard marshmallow roast, that falls under "recreational fires." These are generally allowed year-round, even during the summer burn ban, provided they are small.
We are talking about a fire pit or a chiminea. The total area of the fire can’t exceed 3 feet in diameter or 2 feet in height. You still have to use clean, dry wood. You still can't burn trash. And if your neighbor calls and says the smoke is entering their windows and causing a medical issue, the fire department can still force you to extinguish it.
People often confuse these two things. They think because they have a "fire pit" they can stuff it with three bags of wet leaves. Nope. That’s a debris fire, not a recreational one. Use your head.
💡 You might also like: Bondage and Being Tied Up: A Realistic Look at Safety, Psychology, and Why People Do It
Real talk: The neighbors are watching
Gwinnett is crowded. Unlike the rural parts of North Georgia where nobody cares if you have a bonfire, Gwinnett is a patchwork of HOAs and tight-knit subdivisions.
If you burn on a day when the air is stagnant, that smoke is going into someone's HVAC system. Most calls to the Gwinnett Fire Department about illegal burning aren't from "snitches"—they're from people with COPD or parents with kids who have severe allergies.
If you're unsure, or if your yard is tiny, honestly? Just bag it. Or use the Gwinnett County solid waste services. Most residents get one bulky item or a certain amount of yard waste pickup included in their fees. It's a lot less work than babysitting a fire for six hours.
Checking the Georgia Forestry Commission Map
If you want to be a real pro, don't just call the local line. Go to the Georgia Forestry Commission (GFC) website. They have a "Burn Map" that shows every county in the state.
Gwinnett will often show up as "No Permits Issued." In Georgia, for residential yard debris, you don't technically need a physical paper permit anymore for small piles, but you are still bound by the "Daily Burn Status." The GFC map is the "source of truth" for the entire state. If they have flagged Gwinnett in red, it doesn't matter what your neighbor told you—you stay inside.
Actionable steps for a successful burn
If you've checked the status and it's a go, here is your checklist to keep things legal and safe.
- Check the 678.518.4979 line. Do this at 10:00 AM, not the night before.
- Clear the area. Scrape away all the grass and leaves around your burn pile until you hit dirt. You want a "fire break" of at least several feet.
- Keep it small. It is much easier to manage three small fires than one giant inferno. Add to the fire slowly.
- Dry wood only. If the wood is wet, it smokes. Smoke brings complaints. Complaints bring the red trucks.
- Wind check. If the trees are swaying, don't light the match. Embers can travel hundreds of yards in a stiff Georgia breeze.
- Full extinction. Douse the ashes with water. Stir them. Douse them again. If it's still "smoking" or hot to the touch, it isn't out.
If you follow these steps, you’ll handle your yard work without getting a citation or accidentally burning down the neighborhood. It really just comes down to checking that daily status and being respectful of the air quality.
For the most up-to-date daily information, bookmark the Gwinnett County Fire and Emergency Services page or keep that phone number in your contacts. It saves a lot of guesswork on a Saturday morning when you're staring at a pile of brush.