Colorado Springs, CO Outdoor Cooking: BBQ & Propane Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Fire Code § 308.1.4 (City Code § 8.4.105)
- Ban
- Charcoal/solid-fuel/open-flame on combustible balconies
- Clearance
- 10 feet from combustible construction
- Exempt
- One- and two-family dwellings
- Exempt
- Sprinkler-protected balconies and decks
- Exempt
- Propane grills ≤47 lb water capacity (20-lb tank)
- Added rule
- Valves off when cylinders not in use, § 308.1.4.1
Summary
Fire Code Section 308.1.4 bars charcoal and solid-fuel burners and other open-flame cooking devices from combustible balconies or within 10 feet of combustible construction, but exempts one- and two-family homes, sprinkler-protected balconies and decks, and small propane grills whose LPG container holds 47 pounds or less water capacity: a standard 20-pound tank.
308.1.4 Open-flame cooking devices. Charcoal and solid-fuel burners and other open-flame cooking devices shall not be operated on combustible balconies or within 10 feet (3048mm) of combustible construction. Exceptions: 1. One- and two-family dwellings. 2. Where buildings, balconies, and decks are protected by an automatic sprinkler system. 3. LPG cooking devices having LPG container with a water capacity not greater than 47 pounds [nominal 20-pound LPG capacity].
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-21: Code current through: Ord. 26-23, passed June 9, 2026).
Full Breakdown
4, as amended locally, is the City's balcony grilling rule: charcoal and solid-fuel burners, plus other open-flame cooking devices generally, cannot be operated on a combustible balcony or within 10 feet of combustible construction. Three exceptions carve out real-world uses. First, one- and two-family dwellings are exempt entirely, so a homeowner's charcoal grill on a house deck isn't covered. Second, buildings whose balconies and decks are protected by an automatic sprinkler system escape the ban. Third, and most relevant to apartment and condo tenants, propane cooking devices with an LPG container holding 47 pounds of water capacity or less, the nominal 20-pound tank that fits a typical gas grill, are exempt from the clearance rule even on a combustible balcony.
2 bars storing open-flame devices or their LPG tanks in stairwells, corridors, or other spaces used for egress or considered interior living space. Together these sections mean a multifamily resident can keep a standard propane grill on a balcony, but a charcoal or wood-pellet smoker on that same combustible balcony is prohibited unless the building has sprinklered decks.
Violations & Fines
A charcoal grill or other banned open-flame device operated on a combustible balcony in violation of Section 308.1.4 exposes the resident or property owner to City Code Section 1.1.201's General Penalty, a fine of up to $2,500, up to 189 days in jail, probation, or a combination, and the Division of the Fire Marshal can order the device removed from the balcony.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use my propane grill on my apartment balcony?
What about a charcoal or pellet smoker on a balcony?
Can I store my spare propane tank in the stairwell?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Colorado Springs
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