Minnetonka, MN Fire Regulations: Propane Storage (2026)
Key Facts
- Propane grills and cylinders
- Prohibited within 15 feet of the building
- Where listed propane grills are allowed
- Ground level only
- Covered buildings
- Institutional, apartment or condominium, two or more stories
- Electric grill clearance
- 18 inches on all sides to combustibles
- Appeal or variance window
- 30 days after the fire marshal's order
- Penalty
- Misdemeanor under section 910.035
Summary
In the City of Minnetonka, Hennepin County, Minnesota, the city's amendment to Appendix O of the state fire code bars propane grills and cylinder storage within 15 feet of an institutional, apartment or condominium building two or more stories in height. Listed propane grills are allowed only at ground level. The fire marshal enforces the rule, and a violation is a misdemeanor.
2. Appendix O (Fires or Barbecues on Balconies or Patios) of the state fire code is amended to read as follows: 1.1 Open flame prohibited. In any institutional, apartment or condominium building two or more stories in height, no person may kindle, maintain, or cause any fire or open flame on any balcony above ground level, or on any ground floor patio within 15 feet of the structure. 1.2 Fuel storage prohibited. No person may store or use any fuel, grill, torch, or other similar heating or lighting chemical or device in any institutional, apartment or condominium building two or more stories in height, except as provided in section 1.3 below. ... 1.3.3 Listed propane fueled grills are allowed only on ground level. Propane grills and cylinder storage is prohibited within 15 feet of the building.
Full Breakdown
Section 910.020 of the Minnetonka City Code amends the Minnesota state fire code, which the city adopts together with the 2018 edition of the International Fire Code. The amended Appendix O (Fires or Barbecues on Balconies or Patios) is written for institutional, apartment and condominium buildings two or more stories in height. It does not mention single-family homes. Inside that scope, no person can keep an open flame on a balcony above ground level or on a ground floor patio within 15 feet of the structure, and no person can store or use any fuel, grill, torch or similar device except as the grill clearance rules allow.
The clearance rules sort grills by fuel. Listed electric grills are allowed on balconies and patios with an 18-inch clearance on all sides to combustibles, or more if the manufacturer specifies, and they must be plugged directly into a GFI protected exterior outlet. Listed natural gas grills are allowed only if permanently mounted and plumbed to the building's natural gas supply, again with 18 inches of clearance. Listed propane grills are allowed only on ground level, and propane grills and cylinder storage are prohibited within 15 feet of the building. Listed charcoal grills and smokers are also ground level only and cannot be used or stored within 15 feet of the building.
The same section 910.020 sets separate recreational fire rules: an annual permit from the fire department, a 25 foot distance from a structure or combustible material, fire pits at least 10 feet from any property line, and portable outdoor fireplaces not operated within 15 feet of a structure or combustible material. The fire marshal can issue an order to anyone who violates the fire code under section 910.025. The Appendix O language was last amended by Ord. No. 2023-03, effective June 17, 2023.
Violations & Fines
Under section 910.035 of the Minnetonka City Code it is a misdemeanor to violate or fail to comply with any provision of the city fire code, to violate or fail to comply with an order issued under it, or to build a structure that departs from approved plans. Section 1310.010 treats each calendar day of a code violation as a separate offense, so a propane cylinder left within 15 feet of a covered building can generate a new offense every day after the fire marshal's order deadline passes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep a propane tank on my apartment balcony in Minnetonka?
What kind of grill can I use on a Minnetonka apartment balcony?
Does the 15-foot propane rule cover single-family homes in Minnetonka?
How do I challenge a fire marshal's order in Minnetonka?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Minnetonka
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Propane Storage in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Hennepin County handle propane storage.