Fire Regulations in Memphis, TN (2026)
5 verified fire regulations for Memphis, Tennessee, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Fire Pits & Backyard Fires
Memphis Code § 9-12-4(B)(1) lets residents burn for cooking, ceremonial, recreational or comfort-heating purposes, including barbecues and outdoor fireplaces, without a permit, as long as the fire department approves and it creates no public nuisance.
Memphis Outdoor Fire Pit & Fireplace Rule
Light RestrictionsMemphis Code of Ordinances § 9-12-4(B)(1)
B. Open burning as listed below may be conducted without permit subject to fire department approval and provided further that no public nuisance is or will be created by the open burning: 1. Fires used for the cooking of food or for ceremonial, recreational or comfort-heating purposes including barbecues and outdoor fireplaces. This exception does not include commercial food preparation facilit...
Fireworks
Memphis requires a Fire Prevention Bureau permit for any fireworks, pyrotechnic, or flame-effect display, charging $25 plus standby-firefighter cost, and doubles that fee if the display goes ahead before the permit is approved.
Memphis Fireworks Display Permit & Fees
Some RestrictionsMemphis Code of Ordinances § 9-40-4(E); § 9-40-5
E.Miscellaneous permits and fees. Fireworks, pyrotechnic, or flame effect display (Standby firefighter requires additional cost) $25.00 ... Use, handle or store explosives $50.00 ... Sec. 9-40-5. - Penalties. A.Additional inspections required in connection with the permit approval, after the first two inspections, shall be billed at a rate of $25.00 per man hour. B.For applications submitted le...
Outdoor Burning
Memphis Code § 9-12-4(A) bans open burning of refuse, garbage, trade waste, trees, limbs, brush and salvage materials citywide, and flatly prohibits burning tires, vinyl, plastics, asphalt roofing or asbestos materials under any circumstance.
Memphis Open Burning Prohibition
Significant RestrictionsMemphis Code of Ordinances § 9-12-4(A)
A. No person shall cause, suffer, allow or permit open burning of refuse, garbage, trade waste, trees, limbs, brush, or materials from salvage operations. The open burning of tires and other rubber products, vinyl shingles and siding, other plastics, asphalt shingles and other asphalt roofing materials, and/or asbestos containing materials is expressly prohibited, and such materials shall not b...
Smoke Detectors
City Code § 9-44-6 requires an approved UL- or FM-listed smoke detector in every existing apartment, condo, dormitory, townhouse, duplex unit, and every existing motel or hotel guest room in Memphis, with a unit covering each sleeping area, the head of every stairway leading to an occupied floor, and the head of each interior basement stairway.
Memphis Smoke Detector Requirements
Some RestrictionsMemphis Code of Ordinances § 9-44-6(A), (D)
Sec. 9-44-6. Fire protection equipment—Smoke detector devices—Required—Design—Installation and maintenance. A. Where required. Smoke detectors are required: 1. In every existing dwelling unit within an apartment house, condominium complex, dormitory, townhouse or duplex; and 2. Every existing guest room in a motel and hotel. These occupancies shall be provided with an approved U.L. or F.M.-list...
Propane Storage
Memphis's fire code amendments in City Code § 9-36-4 (adopting the 2021 International Fire Code) put the owner of any LP-gas container on the hook for the installation permit, cap maximum LP-gas storage capacity by the city's designated fire district rather than a generic legal limit, and require portable propane containers to stay upright at the relief valve during storage and transport.
Memphis LP-Gas and Propane Storage Rules
Some RestrictionsMemphis Code of Ordinances § 9-36-4 (2021 IFC Amendments, §§ 105.5.29, 6104.2, 6107.5)
105.5.29 LP-gas is amended to add the following sentence at the end of section 1 after the word "gas": "It shall be the responsibility of the owner of the LP container to obtain the permit." ... 6104.2 Maximum capacity within established limits is amended to delete the words "limits established by law restricting" in the first sentence and substitute in lieu thereof the words "fire district." ....
Looking for Shelby County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Memphis city rules.
Fire Regulations in Shelby County →