How Bellevue Handles Outdoor Cooking: A Practical Guide
Bellevue maintains 94 local ordinances across all categories, and 2 of those deal specifically with outdoor cooking. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Bellevue falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.
BBQ & Propane Rules
Bellevue caps LPG containers used with portable outdoor barbecues on occupied roofs of apartment and condo buildings (Group R-2) at 16.4 ounces, matching a standard one-pound camping cylinder. Grills must also be cleaned periodically to remove grease buildup.
Key details: Max LPG container size: 16.4 ounces (0.465 kg). Applies to: Occupied roofs, Group R-2 buildings. Cleaning duty: Periodic grease removal, Sec. 307.6.1. Governing code: BCC 23.11.307.6 (IFC 307.6).
Using an LPG container larger than 16.4 ounces with a portable outdoor barbecue on an occupied Group R-2 rooftop, or operating a barbecue caked with grease accumulation in violation of the cleaning duty in 307.6.1, are both violations the fire code official can cite under Bellevue's amended Fire Code, with authority to order the grill removed or the fire extinguished under Section 307.3.
Smoker Rules
Bellevue bans open burning citywide under a 1992 Puget Sound Clean Air Agency ban, but bonfires, recreational fires and portable outdoor fireplaces are carved out as exceptions. A bonfire needs a fire code official permit and must sit 50 feet from any structure or combustible material.
Key details: Bonfire setback: 50 feet from structures. Recreational fire setback: 25 feet from structures. Portable fireplace setback: 15 feet from structures. Bonfire permit: Required, fire code official. Extinguisher required: Minimum 4-A rating on site.
Kindling a bonfire without the required fire code official permit, burning inside the setback distances in 307.4.1 through 307.4.3, or burning during an active Puget Sound Clean Air Agency or fire-danger burn ban are code violations the fire code official can act on under Section 307.3, including ordering the fire extinguished on the spot. Leaving any of these fires unattended without extinguishing equipment present is also a violation.
The Bottom Line
Bellevue's outdoor cooking rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Bellevue is broadly strict or permissive.
Keep in mind that Bellevue can amend these rules at any council meeting. For the most current version of any rule mentioned here, check the specific ordinance page, where we track updates as they happen.