Outdoor burning rules in Harrison County, MS — also called the burn ban, open burning, or fire restriction ordinance — set when you can burn yard waste, debris, or run a recreational fire.
Harrison County prohibits open burning within municipal limits of Gulfport, Biloxi, and other cities. Rural unincorporated areas allow yard waste burning with MS Forestry Commission permit. MDEQ bans trash, tire, and construction debris burning with fines up to $25,000/day.
Harrison County regulates outdoor burning through a mix of municipal ordinances, MS Forestry Commission rules under MS Code Ann. §49-19, and Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) air quality regulations. Open burning is prohibited within the city limits of Gulfport, Biloxi, D'Iberville, Long Beach, and Pass Christian except for small, contained recreational fires. In unincorporated Harrison County, yard waste and land clearing burns require a permit from the MS Forestry Commission (available online or by calling 1-800-240-6132). MDEQ Air Pollution Control regulations (APC-S-1) under MS Code §49-17 flatly prohibit burning household trash, tires, plastics, construction debris, painted/treated lumber, and asphalt shingles statewide. Hurricane debris from storms like Katrina, Zeta, and Ida is subject to FEMA and MEMA debris management rules; open burning of storm debris requires emergency MDEQ authorization. Burn days are limited by wind speed (generally under 15 mph), humidity, and air quality; Keesler AFB operations may trigger additional restrictions. The Harrison County Fire Marshal and municipal fire departments coordinate enforcement. Post-Katrina rebuilding left lingering concerns about legacy contamination that may require special handling rather than burning.
Unpermitted burning: $200-$500 local fine. MDEQ violations (trash, tires, debris): up to $25,000 per day per MS Code §49-17-43. Causing wildfire: misdemeanor or felony under MS Code §97-17-13 plus civil liability for suppression costs. Violating a burn ban: $500+ and possible court summons.
Harrison County, MS
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