Stallings staff proposes broader ban on open burning, including new enforcement penalties

Town planning staff presented proposed revisions to the open-burning chapter of the code aimed at strengthening public-safety enforcement, improving air quality and closing enforcement gaps. The revisions would prohibit open burning of any material within town limits unless explicitly exempted and would eliminate existing exceptions for land-clearing and right-of-way maintenance.

Staff said the updates would clarify definitions, permit narrow exemptions for campfires, outdoor cooking, ceremonial fires and fires used for warmth (so long as they do not create a nuisance or burn prohibited materials), and would authorize both code enforcement officers and the Stallings Police Department to issue civil citations. The draft would allow a civil penalty of $100 for a first offense at the discretion of enforcement officials.

Council members asked for clarity on routine backyard fire-pit use versus large piles of yard-waste disposal, and how the change would be communicated. Staff said the ordinance targets large, disposal-oriented burns and repeated yard-waste burning that led to public-safety incidents, and that staff would enforce discretion and work with the police department for weekend complaints.

No final vote was taken; staff recommended approval in concept and council asked questions about outreach and enforcement consistency before taking action at a future meeting.