101 local rules on file · Pop. 2,466 · Desoto County
Showing ordinances that apply to Lynchburg, MS
Lynchburg is an unincorporated community with a population of approximately 2,466 in DeSoto County, Mississippi. Because Lynchburg is not an incorporated city, it does not have its own municipal government or city code. Instead, DeSoto County ordinances apply directly to residential and commercial properties here. The rules below are the county-level regulations that govern your area. Nearby incorporated cities in DeSoto County may have different rules.
DeSoto County, MS regulates open burning through municipal fire codes, Mississippi Forestry Commission rules, and MDEQ air quality standards. Small recreational fires in approved containers are generally allowed, but burning yard waste, land-clearing debris, or any material within most DeSoto city limits requires permission. Burning trash, tires, construction debris, or treated lumber is prohibited statewide under Mississippi Air Quality Permit Regulation APC-S-1, with MDEQ penalties reaching $25,000 per day.
Desoto County follows Mississippi's permissive fireworks laws. MS Code Ann. §45-13-7 allows consumer fireworks sales and use with local municipalities setting time and place restrictions.
These unincorporated areas are also governed by Desoto County ordinances.
DeSoto County, MS permits recreational fire pits on private property subject to local fire prevention codes and Mississippi State Fire Marshal rules. Recreational fires must be at least 25 feet from structures and property lines, contained in an approved fire pit no larger than 3 feet across, attended at all times, and suspended during any Mississippi Forestry Commission burn ban. Only clean dry wood is permitted; trash, yard waste, and treated lumber are prohibited by MDEQ air quality rules.
Desoto County may enforce breed-specific or dangerous dog ordinances. Mississippi does not have a statewide breed ban but allows municipalities to adopt local breed restrictions.
Desoto County enforces leash laws and animal control through local ordinances under MS Code Ann. §21-19-9. Dogs must be on leash or under control when off owner's property.
DeSoto County, MS allows backyard chickens and limited livestock under a patchwork of municipal zoning rules, with protection from over-regulation provided by Mississippi's Right to Farm Act, MS Code Ann. §95-3-29. Southaven, Olive Branch, Horn Lake, and Hernando each set their own limits, typically allowing 4-6 hens on standard residential lots with no roosters and setbacks of 25-50 feet from neighboring dwellings. Larger livestock like horses, cattle, and goats are restricted to agriculturally zoned parcels, with most unincorporated DeSoto County more permissive than the cities.
Mississippi Code §49-8-5 requires a permit from MDWFP to possess inherently dangerous wild animals (big cats, bears, primates, venomous reptiles). DeSoto County zoning restricts exotic animals in residential districts.
MDWFP prohibits supplemental feeding of deer in CWD Management Zones (DeSoto County is within the MS CWD Zone). Baiting restrictions apply. Feeding that creates a nuisance violates county nuisance code.
Desoto County regulates beekeeping through local zoning and the Mississippi Bee and Honey Law under MS Code Ann. §69-39-1 et seq. Mississippi is generally permissive toward apiculture.
Desoto County addresses boundary fences and neighbor disputes through local ordinances. Mississippi follows general common law principles for shared fences and property line placement.
Desoto County may require permits for fence installation depending on height, location, and type. Permit requirements are established through local building and zoning codes.
DeSoto County, MS permits a wide range of common fence materials including wood, vinyl, chain link, aluminum, and wrought iron in residential zones, with restrictions on barbed wire and electric fencing. Southaven, Olive Branch, Horn Lake, and Hernando zoning codes typically restrict chain link in front yards of newer subdivisions and limit barbed wire to agricultural or industrial districts. Mississippi's humid climate favors rot-resistant and moisture-tolerant options like treated pine, cedar, and vinyl.
DeSoto County sets fence height limits at 4 feet in front yards and 8 feet in rear and side yards for unincorporated residential areas. Agricultural fencing on rural parcels east of Hernando may exceed standard residential limits.
DeSoto County requires a building permit for retaining walls over 4 feet measured from bottom of footing to top of wall. Over 4 feet, a licensed MS professional engineer must stamp the design. Surcharge loads (driveways, pools, structures within 1H:1V) lower the permit-free height.
DeSoto County enforces IRC Appendix G / ISPSC pool barrier standards: minimum 48-inch barrier, self-closing and self-latching gates with latch at least 54 inches high, openings under 4 inches, and either perimeter fencing or house-wall door alarms. Strict drowning-prevention enforcement.
DeSoto County, MS requires short-term rental operators to provide adequate off-street parking for all guest vehicles to preserve residential character in Southaven, Olive Branch, Horn Lake, and Hernando neighborhoods. Parking standards are enforced through zoning ordinances and STR permit conditions, typically requiring one off-street space per bedroom with a minimum of two, and on-street overflow parking must follow standard residential rules. Operators are commonly required to disclose parking capacity in listings.
Desoto County applies standard noise ordinance rules to short-term rental properties. STR operators are responsible for ensuring guests comply with local quiet hours.
Desoto County requires STR operators to collect and remit Mississippi sales tax and local tourism taxes. MS Code Ann. §27-65-23 governs accommodation tax collection.
DeSoto County cities typically require STR hosts to carry $500,000 to $1 million liability insurance. Standard MS homeowner policies (HO-3) exclude business/commercial rental use; hosts need a commercial rider or dedicated STR policy. Airbnb AirCover/Host Liability is supplemental, not primary.
DeSoto County cities generally cap STR occupancy at 2 guests per bedroom plus 2, consistent with International Property Maintenance Code standards. Southaven, Olive Branch, Horn Lake, and Hernando STR permits state max occupancy on the license. Exceeding limit can revoke the permit.
Desoto County may require registration or permits for short-term rental properties. Mississippi law leaves STR regulation primarily to local municipalities under home rule authority.
DeSoto County, MS requires pool safety barriers meeting International Residential Code Appendix G and International Swimming Pool and Spa Code standards as adopted by Southaven, Olive Branch, Horn Lake, and Hernando. Barriers must be at least 48 inches high with no climbable features, self-closing self-latching gates with latches 54 inches above grade, and maximum openings of 4 inches. Doors from the house to the pool area must be alarmed or self-closing, and compliance is inspected before first use.
DeSoto County requires an electrical permit for hot tub 240V installation. Locking safety cover meeting ASTM F1346 satisfies barrier requirement. 5-foot setback from property lines.
DeSoto County requires a building permit for above-ground pools over 24 inches deep or 5,000 gallons. Barrier per Mississippi-adopted IRC, 10-foot setback from property lines, GFCI electrical.
Desoto County enforces pool safety requirements including water quality, drain covers, and maintenance standards. The MS State Department of Health oversees public pool safety regulations.
Desoto County requires building permits for swimming pool installation. The Mississippi State Department of Health regulates public and semi-public pools under MS Code Ann. §41-26-1.
DeSoto County, MS strictly limits signage for home-based businesses in residential zones to preserve neighborhood character in Southaven, Olive Branch, Horn Lake, and Hernando. Municipal zoning codes adopted under MS Code Ann. §17-1-1 et seq. either prohibit exterior signs entirely or allow only a single non-illuminated nameplate no larger than 1-2 square feet mounted flat on the building. Freestanding signs, illuminated signs, banners, flags, and vehicle-mounted advertising are prohibited on residential parcels.
Mississippi State Department of Health licenses home daycares serving 6+ children under Miss. Code §43-20-1. DeSoto County zoning permits licensed family daycare in residential districts as a home occupation.
DeSoto County, MS limits customer and client traffic to home-based businesses to preserve residential quality of life under MS Code Ann. §17-1-1 et seq. zoning authority. Home occupation permits in Southaven, Olive Branch, Horn Lake, and Hernando typically prohibit retail walk-in traffic, cap professional client visits at 2-4 per day, and restrict deliveries to normal residential levels. Conditional use permits may be required for businesses expecting regular visitors, and HOAs often impose additional restrictions.
Mississippi Cottage Food Law (SB 2553, 2013, codified at Miss. Code §75-34-1 et seq.) allows home-based sale of non-potentially hazardous foods up to $35,000 annually. Labeling and direct-sale rules apply.
Desoto County permits home-based businesses in residential zones subject to local zoning restrictions. Home occupations must be clearly secondary to the residential use of the property.
DeSoto County, MS handles accessory dwelling units entirely through local zoning under MS Code Ann. §17-1-1 et seq., with no statewide ADU preemption law like California's. Southaven, Olive Branch, Horn Lake, and Hernando each set their own rules, typically permitting ADUs in certain residential zones by right or conditional use, with size caps of 600-1,000 square feet or a percentage of the primary dwelling, owner-occupancy requirements, separate utility connections, and off-street parking. Growing housing demand in the Memphis metro is pushing DeSoto cities to consider more permissive ADU policies.
DeSoto County requires building permits for sheds over 200 square feet in unincorporated areas. Setback requirements apply from property lines and easements along utility corridors near the growing suburban fringe.
DeSoto County, MS regulates garage conversions through municipal building and zoning codes adopted under MS Code Ann. §17-1-1 et seq. Converting a garage to living space in Southaven, Olive Branch, Horn Lake, or Hernando requires a building permit, must maintain minimum off-street parking ratios (typically 2 spaces per dwelling), and must meet IRC habitable-room standards for insulation, egress, ceiling height, and electrical. Flood zone properties near the Coldwater River or Horn Lake face additional elevation requirements under FEMA NFIP rules.
DeSoto County permits tiny homes on foundation as dwellings meeting IRC Appendix Q (400 sq ft minimum not required in Appendix Q). Tiny homes on wheels classified as RVs — only in approved RV parks.
DeSoto County requires a building permit for all carports. 5-foot side setback, 25-foot front setback, 15-foot max height, counts toward 30% lot coverage. HOAs may restrict.
DeSoto County, MS is served by abundant groundwater from the Memphis Sand Aquifer and rarely imposes permanent water restrictions. The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) regulates water-use permits under MS Code Ann. §51-3-1 et seq., and local utilities including DeSoto County Regional Utility Authority, Southaven Public Services, Hernando Water, Horn Lake Water, and Olive Branch Water issue temporary conservation advisories during drought. Typical drought measures include odd-even address watering and time-of-day limits between 10 AM and 6 PM.
DeSoto County has no general tree-removal permit for private property. Mississippi Right-to-Farm (Miss. Code §95-3-29) and strong private property rights limit regulation. Trees in the county right-of-way or on MDOT routes require coordination before removal.
DeSoto County permits artificial turf on residential lots with no permit required for ground-level installation. Drainage cannot discharge onto neighboring property. HOAs may restrict.
DeSoto County, MS regulates tree trimming and removal primarily through municipal ordinances, with utility companies holding statutory rights to clear vegetation near power lines under MS Code Ann. §77-3-33. Property owners must maintain trees overhanging sidewalks and streets to minimum clearances (8 feet over sidewalks, 14 feet over streets), and Southaven, Olive Branch, Horn Lake, and Hernando each have landscape/tree preservation provisions. Storm-damaged trees may be removed without a permit for safety, a routine occurrence given Mississippi's frequent severe weather.
DeSoto County enforces grass height limits of 12 inches in unincorporated residential areas. The county's rapid suburban growth along the I-55 corridor means vacant lots between new developments frequently receive abatement notices.
DeSoto County does not mandate native landscaping but encourages it. Mississippi State Extension (Miss State) and USDA Zone 7b guide plant selection. No xeriscape mandate — north Mississippi has adequate rainfall.
Mississippi imposes no state-level restriction on residential rainwater harvesting. DeSoto County and its cities allow rain barrels and cisterns without a permit for typical residential garden and irrigation use.
Desoto County enforces weed and vegetation control through property maintenance codes under MS Code Ann. §21-19-11. Overgrown weeds are treated as nuisances subject to abatement.
DeSoto County enforces quiet hours from 10 PM to 6 AM in unincorporated areas. Proximity to Memphis means ambient noise is higher along the I-55 and US-51 corridors near the state line.
Desoto County regulates leaf blower use primarily through general noise ordinance hours. Mississippi municipalities generally allow gas and electric blowers during daytime hours.
Desoto County regulates amplified music and outdoor sound systems through local noise ordinances. Amplified sound is generally restricted during quiet hours from 10 PM to 7 AM.
Desoto County limits construction noise to daytime hours, typically 7 AM to 7 PM weekdays and 8 AM to 5 PM Saturdays, under local building and noise ordinances.
Desoto County addresses barking dogs as a public nuisance under local animal control ordinances. Continuous or excessive barking complaints are handled through animal control services.
Desoto County restricts commercial vehicle parking in residential zones through local zoning ordinances. Weight and size limits typically apply to vehicles stored overnight in residential areas.
DeSoto County's unincorporated areas have moderate RV and boat parking rules. Rural residential lots allow more flexible storage, but newer subdivisions along Church Road and Pleasant Hill Road corridors often have HOA restrictions.
Unincorporated DeSoto County has no blanket overnight street parking ban; county roads lack curbs. Southaven, Olive Branch, Horn Lake, and Hernando city ordinances restrict overnight parking on major roads and ban overnight parking in city parks (typically 10 PM to 6 AM).
MS Code §63-23-1 et seq. governs abandoned vehicle removal. DeSoto County and its cities classify vehicles abandoned after 48-72 hours on public property or inoperable vehicles visible on private property. DeSoto County Sheriff's Office handles unincorporated; each city handles within city limits.
DeSoto County requires an electrical permit for Level 2 EV chargers. No EV-ready building mandate exists. Mississippi has NO state law preventing HOAs from banning chargers, so HOA CC&Rs control. Entergy and Northcentral EPA offer residential EV time-of-use considerations.
Desoto County regulates driveway construction and parking through local zoning and building codes. Vehicles must not block sidewalks or public right-of-way when parked in driveways.
Desoto County regulates street parking through local traffic and parking ordinances. Time limits, overnight restrictions, and permit parking zones may apply in certain areas.
Mississippi §21-19-11 authorizes DeSoto County and municipalities to cut grass exceeding 10 inches on vacant lots and bill owner. Liens attach to property. No vacant property registration countywide.
DeSoto County municipalities enforce property maintenance codes against garage sales that create blight. Merchandise must be displayed neatly, stored out of view after hours, and signs removed within 24 hours of the sale's end.
DeSoto County contracts solid waste collection through Waste Pro and Republic Services by municipality. Bins screened from street between pickups. Place at curb evening before pickup, retrieve within 24 hours.
DeSoto County enforces property maintenance under adopted 2018 International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC). Mississippi §21-19-11 authorizes municipal abatement with property liens. 15-30 day compliance notices.
DeSoto County has no snow or ice sidewalk-clearing ordinance. Significant snowfall is rare in North Mississippi. General sidewalk maintenance and debris-clearing duties apply year-round under municipal property maintenance codes.
DeSoto County does not operate a countywide rental registration program. Mississippi has no state mandate for rental registration. Southaven, Olive Branch, Horn Lake, and Hernando handle rental code compliance through the International Property Maintenance Code via complaint-driven inspections.
Mississippi is a landlord-friendly state with no just-cause eviction requirement. Under MS Code §89-7-27 and §89-8-13, landlords may terminate month-to-month tenancies with 30 days notice without stating a reason. Evictions run through DeSoto County Justice Court.
DeSoto County has no rent control. Mississippi has no statewide rent control statute, and the Landlord and Tenant Act (Title 89, Ch. 8) sets no cap on rent increases. Landlords set market rates freely.
DeSoto County parks close at dusk or 10 PM. Southaven Central Park and Snowden Grove close 10 PM (11 PM during concerts). Arkabutla Lake (USACE) closes sunset unless camping in permitted areas.
Desoto County enforces a juvenile curfew for minors under 17. Nighttime curfew hours typically run 11 PM to 6 AM on school nights with later weekend hours.
DeSoto County, MS cities offer scheduled bulk item pickup for large furniture, mattresses, and appliances through municipal public works or contracted haulers. Southaven, Olive Branch, Horn Lake, and Hernando typically provide appointment-based or monthly bulk collection. Appliances with refrigerant (fridges, freezers, AC units) require EPA-compliant refrigerant recovery before pickup. Electronics, hazardous materials, paint, and batteries are excluded and must go to the DeSoto County Transfer Station or special drop-off events.
DeSoto County, MS provides weekly curbside trash collection through municipal public works departments and contracted haulers including Waste Pro and Waste Connections. Southaven, Olive Branch, Horn Lake, Hernando, and Walls each assign pickup days by neighborhood, with recycling service available in most cities. Bins must be at curbside by 6-7 AM on pickup day. Holidays including New Year's, Thanksgiving, and Christmas shift pickup by one day.
DeSoto County, MS cities require trash and recycling bins placed at the curbside on collection day with lids fully closed, spaced at least 3 feet apart and clear of mailboxes, parked cars, and utility poles. Bins must be retrieved within 12 to 24 hours after collection under Southaven, Olive Branch, Horn Lake, and Hernando property maintenance codes. Between pickups, bins must be stored out of view from the street, typically behind a fence or beside the house.
DeSoto County has no mandatory curbside recycling ordinance. Southaven, Olive Branch, Horn Lake, and Hernando offer voluntary drop-off sites; curbside recycling was discontinued across DeSoto cities in 2018-2019 after market collapse.
DeSoto County zoning requires 25 ft front, 8 ft side, 20 ft rear typical for R-1 residential. Southaven and Olive Branch follow similar standards; corner lots and flag lots have increased setbacks.
DeSoto County R-1 residential limits buildings to 35 ft / 2.5 stories. Southaven and Olive Branch allow 40 ft in some residential zones. Commercial corridors along Goodman Rd permit taller structures.
DeSoto County R-1 lots typically limited to 40% coverage by buildings, 60% total impervious. Southaven R-1A is 35% building coverage. Stormwater management required on larger lots per MS DEQ rules.
DeSoto County requires building and electrical permits for rooftop solar installations. Entergy Mississippi and Northcentral Electric Power Association require interconnection agreements. MS has no net metering mandate; instead the MS PSC uses net billing at avoided cost plus 2.5 cents/kWh premium.
Mississippi has NO solar access law protecting homeowners from HOA solar panel bans. HOAs in DeSoto County (Snowden Grove, Plantation Lakes, Wedgewood, Eastover) may restrict or prohibit rooftop solar via CC&Rs. Review covenants before purchase or installation.
DeSoto County allows temporary garage sale signs during the sale only. Most DeSoto cities cap garage sales at 2-4 per household per year. Signs are prohibited on utility poles, street signs, and in MDOT or county right-of-way.
DeSoto County permits residential holiday decorations without a permit. No specific duration cap in unincorporated areas. HOAs in Southaven, Olive Branch, Hernando, and Horn Lake master-planned subdivisions commonly restrict installation to 30 days before and 15-30 days after the holiday.
DeSoto County allows political signs on private property with size limits, consistent with First Amendment protections. MS Code §23-15-895 prohibits tampering with political signs. Signs in public right-of-way and on MDOT highways are prohibited. Remove within 10 days after the election.
DeSoto County requires erosion and sediment control on all land-disturbing activity of 1 acre or more, consistent with MDEQ's Large Construction General Permit. Silt fence, stabilized entrances, and inlet protection are standard; disturbed areas must be stabilized within 14 days of inactivity.
Not applicable. DeSoto County is in North Mississippi near the Tennessee border and has no coastline. Mississippi coastal development rules (Miss. Code §49-27 Wetlands Act) apply only to Hancock, Harrison, and Jackson counties on the Gulf Coast.
DeSoto County and its cities operate MS4 stormwater programs under MDEQ NPDES Phase II permits. New development over 1 acre disturbed must submit a stormwater management plan; post-construction runoff control and illicit discharge prohibitions are enforced.
DeSoto County requires a grading permit for earthwork exceeding 50 cubic yards or disturbing 1 acre. Drainage cannot be redirected to harm neighboring properties — Mississippi follows the modified civil-law (reasonable use) rule for surface water.
DeSoto County participates in the NFIP and enforces floodplain management under the county and municipal Flood Damage Prevention Ordinances. Properties in FEMA Zones A and AE along the Coldwater River, Horn Lake Creek, and Nonconnah Creek face elevation, freeboard, and insurance requirements.
DeSoto County cities require door-to-door solicitor permits with background checks. Southaven charges $50-$100, requires MS photo ID, and limits hours to 9 AM-8 PM. Religious and political canvassing exempt.
Southaven and Olive Branch honor posted 'No Soliciting' signs under city code; violating a posted sign is a separate citation. DeSoto cities do not maintain formal no-knock registries like Memphis.
DeSoto County has no unified countywide garage sale frequency limit in unincorporated areas. Municipalities set their own caps — Southaven and Olive Branch each limit residents to roughly 4 sales per calendar year under their peddler/transient vendor codes.
DeSoto County cities have minimal garage sale regulation. Southaven, Olive Branch, and Horn Lake limit sales to 2-3 per year per address without permit. Hernando requires free registration for sales over 2 days.
DeSoto County municipalities restrict garage sales to daytime hours, generally 7 AM to sunset. Signs in public rights-of-way are prohibited under MDOT and municipal sign codes and are routinely removed by public works.
DeSoto County has no formal heritage tree registry, but Hernando preserves 24+ inch DBH trees as 'significant trees' in its tree preservation ordinance. Courthouse Square live oaks historically protected.
Hernando requires 1:1 to 2:1 tree replacement in new development under its preservation ordinance. Southaven and Olive Branch require replacement only in platted subdivisions and commercial site plans.
DeSoto County and its cities have minimal tree removal permit requirements on private residential property — Mississippi generally defers to property rights. Hernando has a tree preservation ordinance; Southaven and Olive Branch require permits only on new subdivisions.
Home cultivation of cannabis is prohibited throughout DeSoto County. Mississippi's Medical Cannabis Act (Miss. Code §41-137) does NOT authorize patient home grows — only licensed cultivators may produce cannabis in Mississippi.
Mississippi's Medical Cannabis Act allowed municipalities and counties to opt out. Several DeSoto County cities opted out; dispensaries that do operate must meet 1,000-foot buffers from schools, churches, and child-care centers under Miss. Code §41-137-35.
DeSoto County municipalities treat light trespass as a nuisance under general property and zoning codes. Residential property-line illumination generally capped at 0.5 to 1.0 foot-candle. Enforcement is complaint-driven.
DeSoto County has no formal dark-sky ordinance. Commercial site-plan review in municipalities typically requires full-cutoff fixtures and limits spillover to 0.5 foot-candles at residential property lines. Residential lighting is largely unregulated.
DeSoto cities restrict food trucks from public rights-of-way; most vending occurs on private property with owner permission. Southaven Towne Center and Olive Branch Old Towne have specific event-based vending zones.
DeSoto County food trucks need MS Department of Health permit plus city-specific mobile vendor license. Southaven, Olive Branch, Hernando each require separate privilege licenses; fees range $50 to $250 annually.
Commercial drone operators in DeSoto County need FAA Part 107 certification plus privilege license under MS Code §27-17. Memphis Class B airspace over Southaven/Horn Lake requires LAANC waivers.
DeSoto County drone use follows FAA Part 107 and §44809 recreational rules. Memphis International Airport Class B airspace covers northern DeSoto — LAANC authorization required over Southaven and Horn Lake.