Jackson, MS Fire Regulations: Outdoor Burning (2026)

Chapter 58's incinerator article treats open burning of waste as a fire-safety issue rather than a general nuisance matter. Section 58-79 states plainly that 'the burning of waste consisting of garbage, animal and vegetable waste, human or animal remains, organs and solid organic waste are prohibited, unless in incinerators for this type of waste, installed by special permission as set forth in section 58-76.' Section 58-76 requires anyone installing, erecting or repairing an incinerator to first obtain a permit from the planning and development department and the fire prevention bureau, with the application under § 58-77 spelling out plans, the type of waste to be burned, and hourly burning rates. Section 58-78 ties the permit fee to the city's building-permit fee schedule under § 26-491, calculated on the value of the equipment installed.

Once installed, § 58-80 requires every incinerator to carry 'an approved spark arrestor of stainless steel material with openings not greater than one-half inch, nor smaller than one-quarter inch,' and § 58-81 sets detailed fire-resistive construction, ventilation, sprinkler and signage requirements for the waste-collection and charging rooms, including at least two-hour fire-resistive walls and a minimum ten-foot setback from any property line for a freestanding incinerator. No one may operate or charge an incinerator without fire-prevention-bureau certification under § 58-83, and every incinerator existing when the article passed on June 27, 1967, had to be brought into compliance or be condemned under § 58-84.