Desoto County, MS Fire Regulations: Fire Pit Rules (2026)

DeSoto County, MS regulates recreational fire pits under the International Fire Code as adopted by Mississippi and further refined by each municipality. The IFC §307.4.2 standard, referenced in Southaven, Olive Branch, Horn Lake, and Hernando fire codes, requires recreational fires to be 25 feet from any structure, combustible material, or property line. Portable outdoor fireplaces and approved chimineas may be placed as close as 15 feet from structures. Fuel area is limited to 3 feet in diameter and 2 feet in height, and the fire must be continuously attended by a competent person with a garden hose, bucket, or extinguisher on hand until fully extinguished. The Mississippi State Fire Marshal, operating under MS Code Ann. §45-11-1 et seq., provides statewide guidance, and the Mississippi Forestry Commission under §49-19-1 can issue county-level burn bans that override recreational fire permissions. Only clean, seasoned firewood or manufactured fire logs may be used; burning trash, household waste, tires, plastic, or treated/painted lumber is prohibited under Mississippi Air Quality Permit Regulation APC-S-1. Wind speeds over 15 mph, low humidity, or active burn bans are common suspension triggers. DeSoto's humid subtropical climate keeps wildfire risk lower than western states, but late-summer drought and Memphis-area smog alerts periodically trigger restrictions. HOA rules in DeSoto's many master-planned subdivisions frequently prohibit open flames entirely.