Carmel, IN Outdoor Cooking: BBQ & Propane Rules (2026)

Backyard barbecuing with propane is permitted in Carmel. The City's burning ordinance strictly prohibits open burning but expressly carves out outdoor propane and natural gas grills as an allowed exception, so single-family residents can grill freely on their own property. Grill operation and placement fall under the Indiana Fire Code that the Carmel Fire Prevention Bureau enforces. Under that code, charcoal burners and other open-flame cooking devices may not be operated on combustible balconies or within ten feet of combustible construction, and LP gas cooking devices face the same restriction, except that one- and two-family dwellings are exempt from the balcony and ten-foot limit. This is the key rule for apartment and condominium residents: a propane or charcoal grill generally cannot be used on a combustible balcony or close to the building unless it is a one- or two-family dwelling. General fire-safety guidance promoted by fire officials is to keep grills at least ten feet from buildings and never to use them in garages, breezeways, carports, or porches, to check hoses and connections for leaks, and to shut off the gas immediately if a leak is detected. Carmel does not impose grilling hours or a separate grill permit for residential use.