Berwyn, IL Outdoor Cooking: BBQ & Propane Rules (2026)

Cooking fires are carved out of Berwyn's open burning ban by division (B) of § 1610.03 of the Berwyn Code of Ordinances. The general rule in that section makes burning unlawful anywhere in the city, and division (B) restores burning of charcoal briquettes, natural gas, propane, approved wood, or commercially prepared seasoned wood chips used in conjunction with those fuels for cooking purposes.

The carve-out comes with a building-type limit. For multi-family buildings, two restrictions apply. First, charcoal burners and other uncovered open flame cooking devices shall not be operated. Second, burning of charcoal briquettes, approved wood or commercially prepared seasoned woodchips shall not be allowed. The two restrictions overlap on purpose: the first bars a type of device, the second bars a type of fuel. Natural gas and propane appear in the list of permitted cooking fuels and are not repeated in either multi-family restriction.

The section does not mention balconies, decks, patios or setbacks from walls, and it does not define multi-family buildings, so the restriction attaches to the building rather than to a spot on the property. Single-family homes are not named in the restrictions, which means the two limits are written for multi-family buildings only. Approved wood has a specific meaning in division (G): seasoned dry firewood, excluding green or fresh vegetation, leaves, grass, bushes, roots, construction materials, plywood and pressure-treated wood.

Chapter 1610 also adopts the NFPA 1 Uniform Fire Code, 2003 Edition, and § 1610.02 provides that a local provision prevails over NFPA 1 in a conflict. Residents of apartment buildings and condominium complexes should read their own lease or association rules alongside the city text, since the ordinance sets the floor for the whole city.