Annapolis, MD Outdoor Cooking: BBQ & Propane Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit required from
- Director of Planning and Zoning
- Application
- Must be signed by licensed mechanical contractor
- Permit lapses
- If work unstarted after 90 days
- Max permit duration
- Two years from issuance
Summary
Annapolis requires a mechanical permit from the Director of Planning and Zoning before installing, altering, or replacing any barbecue, fireplace, or gas-fired appliance covered by Chapter 17.18 of the City Code.
Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, no person shall make any installation or alteration or replacement of mechanical systems, including heating systems, ventilating systems, cooling systems, steam and hot water heating systems, water heaters, process piping, boilers and pressure vessels, appliances utilizing gas, liquid or solid fuel, chimney flues and vents, ductwork, plenums, mechanical refrigeration systems, fireplaces, barbecues, incinerators, crematories and air pollution systems, or perform any work which is subject to this chapter without first obtaining a mechanical permit from the Director of Planning and Zoning.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 2025 Update 2).
Full Breakdown
Section 17.18.060 of the Annapolis City Code bars installing, altering, or replacing a barbecue, fireplace, or any other gas-, liquid-, or solid-fuel appliance without first obtaining a mechanical permit from the Director of Planning and Zoning. The application must be submitted in writing and signed by a currently licensed mechanical contractor. A permit is void if work isn't started within 90 days or is suspended for six months, and its maximum duration is two years. This targets fixed, built-in installations, a gas grill plumbed into a home's fuel line, not a portable propane tank grill rolled out for a cookout.
Violations & Fines
Installing, altering, or replacing a barbecue or other mechanical appliance without a permit is a municipal infraction under § 17.18.130, subject to a fine set by City Council resolution; unpermitted work can be ordered removed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to install a built-in gas grill in Annapolis?
Does this permit rule apply to a portable propane grill?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Annapolis
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