Fire Regulations in Memphis, TN (2026)
8 verified fire regulations for Memphis, Tennessee, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Fire Pit Rules
Fire pits in Memphis must comply with fire prevention code Ch. 9-36 and TDEC open burning rules. Small fires (3 ft diameter, 2 ft high) must be at least 25 ft from structures; larger fires require 50 ft clearance.
Memphis Fire Pit Rules
Some RestrictionsFireworks
Discharging fireworks within Memphis city limits is prohibited without a permit. While Tennessee state law (TCA §68-104-101) allows consumer fireworks, Memphis has exercised its local authority to ban discharge within city limits. Only licensed commercial-grade displays are permitted. Sparklers and Class C consumer items are technically legal under state law but discouraged.
Memphis Fireworks Regulations
Heavy RestrictionsBrush Clearance
Memphis requires property owners to keep yards clear of dead vegetation and overgrowth under the weed and blight ordinance. Brush exceeding 10 inches must be cut, and accumulations near structures that create a fire hazard are abated by the city with costs liened to the property.
Brush Clearance Rules in Memphis
Some RestrictionsOutdoor Burning
Open burning within Memphis city limits requires two permits: (1) Memphis Fire Department ($50 fee; $75 for 24-hr notice); (2) Shelby County Health Department Air Pollution Control Section. Governed by Memphis City Code §16-50. Burning prohibited on Code Orange air quality days or higher.
Memphis Outdoor Burning Rules
Some RestrictionsWildfire Zones
Memphis is not located in a designated wildfire hazard zone. The city lies within humid bottomland and Mississippi River floodplain, far from fire-prone wildland-urban interface areas. No state or federal wildfire defensible-space mandate applies to Memphis parcels.
Wildfire Zones in Memphis
Few RestrictionsSmoke Detectors
Memphis requires working smoke alarms in every sleeping area and on every floor of all residential properties. Rental units must have hardwired or 10-year sealed-battery alarms, and landlords are responsible for installation with tenants responsible for ongoing battery replacement.
Smoke Detector Rules in Memphis
Heavy RestrictionsBackyard Fires
Backyard recreational fires in Memphis are permitted in approved outdoor fireplaces, chimineas, and fire pits under 3 feet in diameter. Open burning of yard waste is generally prohibited inside city limits under Shelby County Health Department air-quality rules.
Backyard Fire Rules in Memphis
Some RestrictionsPropane Storage
Residential propane storage in Memphis is governed by the Memphis Fire Department under the Tennessee-adopted International Fire Code, with cylinder size, placement, and exchange-cabinet rules enforced by MFD inspectors and Memphis Code Enforcement.