Arlington Heights, IL Outdoor Cooking: BBQ & Propane Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Base code
- 2018 International Fire Code, § 27-101
- Local amendment
- § 27-102 deletes Exception 3 to IFC § 308.1.4
- Related change
- Barbecue-pit bonfire exemption also deleted, IFC § 307.4.1
- Conflict rule
- Municipal Code controls over IFC, § 27-102
- Penalty
- Up to $750 fine, 7-day period, IFC § 110.4 as amended
- Applies to
- All occupancies, including multifamily balconies
Summary
Arlington Heights enforces the 2018 International Fire Code with a local amendment that removes the exception letting small propane cooking devices sit on balconies of multifamily buildings. Municipal Code Section 27-102 deletes Exception 3 to IFC Section 308.1.4, Open Flame Cooking Devices, so apartment and condo residents in the Village face a tighter local rule than the unamended model code allows.
Section 27-101 Addition of the 2018 International Fire Code. There is hereby adopted by reference the 2018 Edition of the International Fire Code (IFC), except as modified by Section 27-102 of this Article. Appendices B, C, and D are specifically adopted. ... Section 27-102 - Modification by Amendment and Deletion of Various Sections of the International Fire Code. The 2018 Edition of the International Fire Code adopted by this Article is modified for use in the Village by the following amendments... To the extent any provision of the IFC conflicts with any provision of the Arlington Heights Municipal Code, the Municipal Code provision will apply. ... 308.1.4 Open Flame Cooking Devices. Delete Exception 3. ... 307.4.1 Bonfires. Delete the following from the first sentence: "unless the fire is contained in a barbecue pit" ... [A] 110.4 Violation penalties. Insert "fire code violation" for [SPECIFY OFFENSE], $750.00 for [AMOUNT], and seven for [NUMBER OF DAYS].
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Municipal Code: Supplement 3 Update 2).
Full Breakdown
Arlington Heights adopted the 2018 International Fire Code (IFC) by reference in Municipal Code Section 27-101, specifically incorporating Appendices B, C, and D, and then tightened multiple IFC sections through the amendment schedule in Section 27-102. " The base 2018 IFC lists exceptions letting certain contained cooking devices operate on balconies and patios of Group R multifamily buildings; by striking Exception 3, the Village narrows what a resident of an apartment, condo, or townhome may legally use for open-flame or propane cooking on a balcony compared to a jurisdiction that adopted the IFC unmodified.
1, Bonfires, removing the automatic carve-out that would otherwise let a contained barbecue-pit fire skip the Village's bonfire restrictions. Both changes sit inside Chapter 27, Fire Regulations, which governs fire and life-safety conditions, including cooking equipment, across all occupancies in the Village of Arlington Heights, Cook County. Anyone planning to grill on a balcony in a multifamily building, or burn a barbecue pit in a backyard, should confirm current requirements with the Village Fire Department before proceeding.
Violations & Fines
A fire code violation, including noncompliant open-flame cooking equipment, is enforced under IFC Section 110.4 as locally amended: Section 27-102 inserts "fire code violation" as the offense, a fine of "$750.00" as the maximum amount, and "seven" as the number of days into that penalty schedule. The Village Fire Department, acting through the Fire Code Official, enforces the 2018 IFC as amended for every occupancy in the Village.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a propane grill on my apartment balcony in Arlington Heights?
Are backyard barbecue pits regulated the same as bonfires here?
What can happen if I violate the open-flame cooking rule?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Arlington Heights
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