Smoker Rules: Edmonds vs Everett
How do smoker rules rules compare between Edmonds, WA and Everett, WA?
Edmonds and Everett have similar restriction levels.
Edmonds, WA
Snohomish County
A charcoal or wood-fired smoker on private property is a cooking fire under Puget Sound Clean Air Agency rules: keep it under three feet in diameter and two feet high, burn only charcoal or clean firewood, attend it, and don't smoke out neighbors. Gas smokers are appliances.
View full Edmonds rules →Everett, WA
Snohomish County
Everett allows residential smokers (pellet, electric, charcoal, wood) under the same fire-code rules as other open-flame cooking devices in IFC Section 308 as adopted by EMC Title 13. Wood and pellet smokers are subject to Puget Sound Clean Air Agency Stage 2 burn bans, which prohibit recreational solid-fuel burning during poor-air-quality episodes. Setbacks from combustible construction are required.
View full Everett rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Edmonds | Everett |
|---|---|---|
| Charcoal/wood smoker | Cooking fire, no permit if small | - |
| Size limit | 3 ft diameter, 2 ft height | - |
| Fuel | Charcoal, dried firewood, firelogs | - |
| Gas/pellet smoker | Treated as appliance | - |
| Nuisance smoke | Must extinguish immediately | - |
| Code Authority | - | EMC Title 13, IFC 308 |
| R-2 Balcony Setback | - | 10 ft from combustibles |
| Single-Family Setback | - | Per manufacturer (24-36 in) |
| Stage 2 Burn Ban | - | No wood/pellet use |
| Propane/Electric | - | Exempt from burn bans |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Edmonds FAQ
Are there rules for using a smoker in my backyard?
A charcoal or wood smoker is a cooking fire under PSCAA rules: keep it under three feet across and two feet high, burn only charcoal or clean firewood, and attend it. No permit is needed at that size.
Can my neighbor complain about smoker smoke?
Yes. It is always illegal to smoke out a neighbor. If your fire's smoke causes a nuisance or damages a neighbor's property, you must extinguish it immediately.
Everett FAQ
Can I use my wood smoker during a PSCAA burn ban?
Not during a Stage 2 burn ban. PSCAA prohibits all outdoor solid-fuel burning at Stage 2, which includes wood and pellet smokers. Propane and electric smokers remain allowed at any stage. Check pscleanair.gov for current ban status before smoking.
Where can I place my smoker on my Everett property?
On a non-combustible surface and at least the manufacturer's recommended distance from walls and overhangs (commonly 24-36 inches). At apartments, the smoker must be at least 10 feet from combustible balcony construction under IFC Section 308 as adopted in EMC Title 13. Never use a smoker inside a garage or covered enclosure.
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