Mississippi Administrative Code

The Executive Director is vested with the authority to adopt regulations to manage any matter pertaining to the marine resources of the state. Notes 22 Miss. Code. R. 19-02-2.6 MISS. CODE ANN. §§ 49-15-304, 49-27-3, 49-27-5, and 57-15-10. Adopted 1/20/2022

These regulations are effective within and on all state-owned Coastal Preserve Areas (CPAs) under the jurisdiction of the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources (MDMR). Notes 22 Miss. Code. R. 19-03-3.1 MISS. CODE ANN. §§ 11-46-1 et seq. and 97-17-1 et seq. Adopted 1/20/2022…

Users shall be responsible for any loss or damage caused to CPA facilities and natural resources within CPA boundaries. The MDMR reserves the right to pursue any legal means, whether civil and/or criminal, to recover its losses or damages. Notes 22 Miss. Code. R. 19-03-3.2 MISS. …

CPAs are open to the public from 1 (one) hour before sunrise to 1 (one) hour after sunset with the exception of the state-owned portions of Deer Island and the state-owned portions of Cat Island, which are open twenty-four (24) hours. Notes 22 Miss. Code. R. 19-03-3.3 MISS. CODE …

Any CPA or parts thereof, including Deer Island and Cat Island, may be closed at any time for the protection and safety of the public or for the protection and management of the natural resources. Signs will be posted indicating the site is closed to the public and the public wil…

The MDMR is not responsible for any accidents or injuries to any persons. Notes 22 Miss. Code. R. 19-03-3.5 MISS. CODE ANN. §§ 11-46-1 et seq. and 97-17-1 et seq. Adopted 1/20/2022

The MDMR shall not be responsible for any property or article lost, stolen, or damaged on or in any CPA. Notes 22 Miss. Code. R. 19-03-3.6 MISS. CODE ANN. §§ 11-46-1 et seq. and 97-17-1 et seq. Adopted 1/20/2022

Recreational camping is only allowed on the state-owned sand beach areas of the Deer Island CPA and the Cat Island CPA. Camping may be considered on other CPAs on a case by case basis. If approved, a Letter of Permission will be granted from the MDMR Coastal Preserves Program. No…

Recreational camping is limited to no more than seven (7) consecutive days without prior written approval, in the form of a Letter of Permission, from the MDMR Coastal Preserves Program. Notes 22 Miss. Code. R. 19-04-4.2 MISS. CODE ANN. § 49-27-3 et seq. Adopted 1/20/2022

Camping within three hundred (300) feet of any beach nesting shore bird colonies, bald eagle nests or osprey nests shall be considered harassment of wildlife. Notes 22 Miss. Code. R. 19-04-4.3 MISS. CODE ANN. § 49-27-3 et seq. Adopted 1/20/2022

Campfires are permitted on bare sandy areas of the Cat Island and Deer Island CPAs near the water. Fire must be completely extinguished before leaving the area. In seasons of unusual dryness or excessive fire danger, fires may be prohibited on all CPAs. Burn bans will be enforced…

Carving, chopping, or cutting down any live or dead standing vegetation for firewood or other use is prohibited. No wood containing nails, staples or metal of any kind may be used as firewood. Only loose, woody material on the ground may be collected for burning. Notes 22 Miss. C…

Boaters must abide by the Mississippi Boating Law of 1960 and the Alcohol Boating Safety Act of 1995. Notes 22 Miss. Code. R. 19-05-5.1 MISS. CODE ANN. §§ 59-21-1 et seq. and 59-23-1 et seq. Adopted 1/20/2022

Live a boards and houseboats are not allowed to be secured or otherwise attached to any lands or structures within CPAs for more than seven (7) consecutive days without prior written approval, in the form of a Letter of Permission, from the MDMR Coastal Preserves Program. Notes 2…

All persons must abide by all local, state and federal laws, and regulations governing hunting, trapping and fishing promulgated by the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources and the Mississippi Commission on Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks. Notes 22 Miss. Code. R. 19-06-6.1 MI…

Harassment of wildlife, including spotlighting, is prohibited. Notes 22 Miss. Code. R. 19-06-6.10 MISS. CODE ANN. §§ 49-7-1, 49-7-3, 49-7-8, 49-15-69, 49-7-80, and 49-7-95. Adopted 1/20/2022

All birds of prey (eagles, hawks, osprey, owls, kites and vultures) and other nongame birds and animals are protected and shall not be captured, hunted, molested, removed, bought or sold. A Letter of Permission for interaction with these species may be granted, if the applicant h…

Any CPA property lying within city limits is closed to hunting unless otherwise provided through city ordinance. Notes 22 Miss. Code. R. 19-06-6.2 MISS. CODE ANN. §§ 49-7-1, 49-7-3, 49-7-8, 49-15-69, 49-7-80, and 49-7-95. Adopted 1/20/2022

Construction of, or hunting from, any permanent stands or blinds is prohibited. Destroying, defacing, cutting, driving nails or spikes into, or otherwise damaging any standing live tree, natural feature, or plant is prohibited. Portable stands (including tripods and ground blinds…

For safety purposes, no hunting is permitted within six hundred (600) feet of nature trails, roadways, parking lots, residences or other permanent structures, with the exception of archery hunting, with a safety zone of three hundred (300) feet. Discharge of a firearm or bow must…

Feeders shall not be erected on any CPA. Any feeders found will be confiscated and disposed of by the MDMR. Notes 22 Miss. Code. R. 19-06-6.5 MISS. CODE ANN. §§ 49-7-1, 49-7-3, 49-7-8, 49-15-69, 49-7-80, and 49-7-95. Adopted 1/20/2022

Trapping of any kind is not allowed on CPAs unless a Letter of Permission is granted by the MDMR Coastal Preserve Program. A Letter Permission will generally be considered only for invasive species control. A Special Permit, as defined in Title 22, Part 18, is required for resear…

Releasing into the wild any live animal or plant of any kind is prohibited without prior written approval in the form of a Letter of Permission from MDMR Coastal Preserves Program and a permit from the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks. Notes 22 Miss. Code. …

Any person engaging in fishing activities must have a valid Mississippi Fishing License. Any person engaging in hunting actives must have a valid Mississippi Hunting License. Only species that can be lawfully taken with these licenses may be removed from state-owned CPAs. Notes 2…

Nuisance animals may be hunted in accordance with Title 40, Part 2, Chapter 7 Nuisance Animals. Notes 22 Miss. Code. R. 19-06-6.9 MISS. CODE ANN. §§ 49-7-1, 49-7-3, 49-7-8, 49-15-69, 49-7-80, and 49-7-95. Adopted 1/20/2022

No person shall destroy, cut, break, remove, mutilate, injure, take, or gather in any manner any tree, shrub, plant, rock, or mineral unless authorized by the MDMR. No person shall cut or saw any live or dead trees or their parts, with any type of equipment, power or otherwise, o…

No person shall remove or plant, seeds or vegetation of any kind on CPA except as otherwise provided in this part. Notes 22 Miss. Code. R. 19-07-7.10 MISS. CODE ANN. §§ 39-7-1 et seq., 49-27-3, 97-15-30, and 97-15-32. Adopted 1/20/2022

Native American sites, old home sites, and other structures, along with objects and artifacts associated with them, are state historical and archaeological resources. No person shall excavate, damage, or remove historical artifacts from state property without a permit from the Mi…

No person shall throw, dump, or leave trash of any kind anywhere in the waters, along the roads, on camping sites, beaches, or any other lands or water of a CPA. No person shall throw, cast, lay or discard into or leave any substance, matter or thing, liquid or solid, in the lake…

No person shall dump any dead wildlife, wildlife parts or waste in an CPA. Notes 22 Miss. Code. R. 19-07-7.3 MISS. CODE ANN. §§ 39-7-1 et seq., 49-27-3, 97-15-30, and 97-15-32. Adopted 1/20/2022

No person shall in any manner injure, deface, disturb, destroy, disfigure, or remove any part of a building, sign, wall, fence, bench, or other object or structure within the CPA property. Notes 22 Miss. Code. R. 19-07-7.4 MISS. CODE ANN. §§ 39-7-1 et seq., 49-27-3, 97-15-30, and…

Homesteading or otherwise using CPAs for a sole place of residence is prohibited. The act of Homesteading includes but is not limited to: erecting permanent or semipermanent structures. No person shall construct or erect any building or structure on CPA land or water. Notes 22 Mi…

Dogs are welcome on all CPAs but shall be on a leash at all times and owners shall properly dispose of their animal's waste. Notes 22 Miss. Code. R. 19-07-7.6 MISS. CODE ANN. §§ 39-7-1 et seq., 49-27-3, 97-15-30, and 97-15-32. Adopted 1/20/2022

Possession of metal detectors is prohibited on all CPA. Notes 22 Miss. Code. R. 19-07-7.7 MISS. CODE ANN. §§ 39-7-1 et seq., 49-27-3, 97-15-30, and 97-15-32. Adopted 1/20/2022

No person shall attach or post notices, signs, or any other objects or structures. The use of paint, blazes, tacks, or other types of markers is prohibited. Notes 22 Miss. Code. R. 19-07-7.8 MISS. CODE ANN. §§ 39-7-1 et seq., 49-27-3, 97-15-30, and 97-15-32. Adopted 1/20/2022…

No person shall distribute any handbills, circulate, post, place, or erect any bills, notices, papers, advertising devices, signs, or printed matter of any kind. Notes 22 Miss. Code. R. 19-07-7.9 MISS. CODE ANN. §§ 39-7-1 et seq., 49-27-3, 97-15-30, and 97-15-32. Adopted 1/20/202…

All motorized vehicles, ATVs (all-terrain vehicles), ORVs (off-road vehicles), motorcycles, personal watercraft, airboats, hovercrafts, vessels and aircraft or aquaplanes are prohibited in the emergent vegetation and surrounding land areas of the CPAs, except those vehicles and v…

Both the owner and the operator of any motorized vehicles, ATVs (all-terrain vehicles), ORVs (off-road vehicles), motorcycles, personal watercraft, airboats, hovercrafts, vessels and aircraft or aquaplanes shall be held liable for the injury and/or damages resulting from any moto…

Any operator of any vehicle motorized or otherwise must comply with all applicable Mississippi laws. Notes 22 Miss. Code. R. 19-08-8.3 MISS. CODE ANN. § 49-27-1 et seq. Adopted 1/20/2022

No owner or driver shall cause or permit a vehicle to stand anywhere outside of designated parking areas, except to receive and discharge passengers. Notes 22 Miss. Code. R. 19-08-8.4 MISS. CODE ANN. § 49-27-1 et seq. Adopted 1/20/2022

Blocking any gate, road, trail, or right-of-way is prohibited and vehicle will be towed at the owner's expense. Notes 22 Miss. Code. R. 19-08-8.5 MISS. CODE ANN. § 49-27-1 et seq. Adopted 1/20/2022

Bicycles are permitted only on designated trails. Notes 22 Miss. Code. R. 19-08-8.6 MISS. CODE ANN. § 49-27-1 et seq. Adopted 1/20/2022

Electronic Personal Mobility Devices (EPAMDs) shall not be operated at a speed greater than five (5) mph on any path, or trail. Only persons with disabilities shall operate EPAMDs and wheelchairs. Notes 22 Miss. Code. R. 19-08-8.7 MISS. CODE ANN. § 49-27-1 et seq. Adopted 1/20/20…

Golf carts and Limited Speed Motor Vehicles (LSMVs) shall be used on the Heritage Trail Possum Walk only and operated only by NASA Infinity staff or volunteers. (LSMV is a four-wheeled vehicle whose top speed is twenty (20) mph). Notes 22 Miss. Code. R. 19-08-8.8 MISS. CODE ANN. …

The provisions of this chapter shall not apply in the case of an emergency or to any employee conducting the official business of a municipal, county, state, or federal agency, or persons conducting activities pursuant to a contract or sub-grant with a state or federal agency. Ex…

Any person possessing a valid permit to carry a concealed handgun, as issued by the Mississippi Department of Public Safety - or any state which Mississippi recognizes as having reciprocal requirements for issuing such licenses - may carry a handgun concealed upon his or her pers…

Firearm use is restricted to hunting. No target shooting, practice, or random shooting of any kind are allowed on CPAs. No person shall shoot paintballs, clay pigeons, or any other shooting competitions on CPAs. Notes 22 Miss. Code. R. 19-09-9.2 MISS. CODE ANN. §§ 45-9-101 and 49…