Bridgeport, CT Outdoor Cooking: BBQ & Propane Rules (2026)

Connecticut has not preempted local BBQ rules, but the framework that governs every Bridgeport household comes from state law rather than local ordinance. The Connecticut State Fire Safety Code, adopted by reference at Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies Section 29-292 under the authority of CGS Section 29-291, incorporates the International Fire Code (IFC) with state amendments. IFC Chapter 61 (Liquefied Petroleum Gases) and IFC Section 308.1.4 set the controlling standards. The key restrictions: (1) for one- and two-family detached dwellings, LP-gas cylinders up to 20 lb water capacity (the standard 20-lb 'BBQ tank') may be used and stored outdoors without special permit, with a typical limit of two cylinders connected for use plus one spare; (2) for multi-family buildings (Group R-2), IFC Section 308.1.4 prohibits charcoal grills and most open-flame cooking on combustible balconies or within 10 feet of combustible construction (exceptions for one- and two-family dwellings and for LP-gas appliances with a tank not exceeding 1 lb on open-air decks of buildings with sprinkler protection); (3) cylinders must not be stored indoors or in basements; (4) the propane storage facility must comply with the Connecticut LPG Code (RCSA Section 29-331). The Bridgeport Fire Marshal enforces the State Fire Safety Code under CGS Section 29-298. Smoke from grilling that constitutes a nuisance can also trigger Bridgeport's general nuisance ordinance and the noise control regulations in Chapter 8.80 of the Bridgeport Code of Ordinances. There is no statewide ban on grilling in single-family yards.