Outdoor Cooking in Milpitas, CA (2026)
2 verified outdoor cooking rules for Milpitas, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
BBQ & Propane Rules
In the City of Milpitas, a built-in backyard barbecue pit or water feature is capped at six feet in height and, as an accessory structure, must generally sit on the rear half of the lot at least six feet from the house. The city's zoning code does not separately restrict portable propane grills on apartment balconies; its only balcony gas-appliance ban targets portable outdoor heaters, not barbecues.
Milpitas Built-In Barbecue Height Limit
Light RestrictionsMilpitas Municipal Code § XIII-C.2.020
3.Location Limitation for Residential Zones. A detached accessory building in a residential zone shall be located as follows:a.On the rear half of the lot;b.At least six feet from any dwelling existing or under construction on the same lot; andc.In the R1 and R2 zones, at least 14 feet from a residential structure existing or under construction on any adjacent lot. ... 3.Built-in Barbeque Pits ...
Smoker Rules
In the City of Milpitas, a built-in barbecue pit or smoker counts as an accessory structure under the Zoning Ordinance and cannot exceed six feet in height. It must also clear the same setbacks required of detached accessory buildings: three feet from a rear or side-rear lot line, seven feet from a front-half side lot line.
Milpitas Caps Built-In Barbecue Pit Height
Some RestrictionsMilpitas Municipal Code § XIII-C.2.020.D.2.a, E.3
2.Setbacks.a.Any detached accessory building shall not be located within:(i)Three feet of any rear lot line or side lot line of the rear half of an adjacent lot; or(ii)Seven feet of the side lot line of the front half of any adjacent lot. ... 3.Built-in Barbeque Pits and Water Features. Built-in barbecue pits and water features (e.g., fountains) must not exceed six feet in height.
Looking for Santa Clara County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Milpitas city rules.
Outdoor Cooking in Santa Clara County →