Fire Information

For burn permits in DeSoto County, please contact the Division of Forestry (DOF) at (941) 751-7627.

Agricultural Fires – Fires related to the growing, harvesting or maintenance of crops. This includes pastures, cattle pens and fence posts for ranchers; and plant nursery operations.

Silvicultural Fires – Fires related to or in connection with wildlife management, the establishment, development, reproduction and care of forest flora and fauna; and includes hazard removal or vegetative buildup.

Land Clearing Debris – Uprooted or cleared vegetation resulting from a land clearing operation and does not include yard trash.

Land Clearing Operation – The uprooting of vegetation in connection with construction for buildings, right-of-way, residential, commercial or industrial development or the initial clearing of vegetation to enhance property value; but does not include the maintenance burning of yard trash resulting from fallen limbs, branches or leaves or any other routine property clean-up activities.

Residential Land Clearing – Land clearing operation that is conducted by the homeowner or individual contracted by the homeowner of a proposed residential dwelling of not more than two family units for the purpose of initially clearing vegetation on the property.

Non-rural Land Clearing – Land clearing operation that is conducted in urban or residential areas, incorporated or unincorporated cities or towns or in any non-rural areas as designated by the Department and shall not include any land clearing operation that is associated with country, livestock or with agricultural activities.

Rural Land Clearing – Land clearing operation that is conducted in a rural area for the burning of wooden material or vegetation generated by a land clearing operation.

Camp Fires – Warming or recreational fires and must be attended at all times.

Clean Dry Wood – Wood (including lighter pine), lumber, or tree and shrub trunks, branches, and limbs which is free of paint, penthacholorophenal, creosote, tar, asphalt, or other wood preservatives and which when burned does not emit excessive visible emissions.

Garbage – All kitchen and table waste, animal or vegetative waste that is attendant with or results from the storage, packaging, preparation, cooking or handling of food materials.

Trash – Construction or demolition debris and other debris such as paper, cardboard, cloth, glass, street sweepings, vehicle tires and other like matter.

Yard Trash – Vegetative matter resulting from landscaping and yard maintenance operations and includes materials such as tree and shrub trimmings, grass clippings, palm fronds, trees and tree stumps. Household paper is also approved materials.

Pesticide – Any substance or mixture of substances intended for preventing, destroying, repelling or mitigating any insects, rodents, nematodes, fungi, weeds, or other forms of plant or animal life or viruses, except viruses or fungi on or in living man or other animals, which Department of Agriculture declares to be a pest and any substance or mixture of substances intended for use as a plant regulator, defoliant or desiccant.

Waste Pesticide Container – Containers made of combustible materials, including but not limited to paper, plastic or burlap, which formerly contained pesticides and which the manufacturer or formulator provided as an end user conveyance of the specified product.

Nuisance – Any open burning activity which is potentially harmful or injurious to human health or property or which is annoying or offensive to occupants of three or more occupied residences.

590.12 – Camp Fires Must be attended at all times.

17.256.700 (1) Yard Trash
1.            100’ from other occupied building
2.            50’ from burner’s home
3.            50’ public highway/road
4.            25’ from woodland, forest or brush
5.            Must be burned in pit or barrel with wire mesh or grill
6.            Must be attended at all times
7.            Must have adequate fire extinguishing equipment
8.            Ignited 9:00 a.m. & extinguished one hour before sunset
9.            Vegetative matter & household paper
10.        Does not require DOF approval

512.06 – Agricultural/Silvicultural Fires
1.            No set backs
2.            Must be attended at all times
3.            Ignited after 9:00 a.m. & extinguished one hour before sunset unless approval from DOF for other times

512.007 – Rural Land Clearing
1.            150’ from any occupied bldg. or public highway/road
2.            Ignited after 9:00 a.m. & extinguished one hour before sunset (DEAD OUT)
3.            At other times with DOF approval
4.            Wooden material or vegetation by a land clearing operation or the demolition of a structure

17.256.500 (1) (a) 1-Residential Land Clearing For construction of a proposed residential dwelling of not more than two family units for the purpose of initially clearing vegetation on the property.
1.            300’ from occupied bldg.
2.            100’ from public highway/road
3.            Ignited 9:00 a.m. & extinguished one hour before sunset (DEAD OUT)
4.            Attended at all times
5.            Prevailing winds must carry smoke away from public highway/road

17.256.400 (1) (a) 2 & 3-Non-Rural Land Clearing For land clearing operation in urban or residential areas in connection with the construction for buildings, right-of-way, residential (more than 2 family dwellings), commercial or industrial development, or the initial clearing of vegetation to enhance property value; but does not include yard trash. If air curtain incinerator is NOT used