Cranston, RI Outdoor Cooking: BBQ & Propane Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Minimum distance from property line
- 10 feet
- Minimum distance from structures
- 10 feet per fire code
- Enclosure material required
- brick, masonry, metal, or noncombustible
- Attendance while cooking
- adult must be present
- Governing section
- Cranston Code § 8.08.200
Summary
Cranston requires outdoor cooking fires, barbecues, fireplaces, and grills, to sit at least ten feet from the neighboring property line and be contained in a noncombustible enclosure with an adult attending at all times.
No person shall kindle or maintain any fire ... in the city of Cranston with the following exceptions: A. Cooking of food on barbecues, fireplaces or grills shall at least be ten (10) feet from the property line of each adjacent owner. ... 1. All cooking and/or fire features must be contained in an enclosure that is constructed from brick, masonry, metal or other non-combustible material. ... 3. An adult must be in attendance at all times the cooking equipment is in use.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4824304; v14 updated 2026-05-18).
Full Breakdown
Cranston's fire prevention code treats barbecue, fireplace, and grill cooking as a regulated outdoor fire. Under Section 8.08.200, the cooking area must sit at least ten feet from the property line of each adjacent owner, and homeowners are told to keep any fire ten feet from a structure or building. The cooking or fire feature has to sit inside an enclosure built of brick, masonry, metal, or other noncombustible material, and an adult must be present the entire time the equipment is in use. Trash, leaves, stumps, and treated or coated lumber are barred from the fire. Permanent cooking structures already in place in 2017 were allowed to remain.
Violations & Fines
The fire prevention code doesn't set a fixed fine for Section 8.08.200; violations are enforced by the fire department, which can order noncompliant setups relocated, enclosed, or removed.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far from the property line does my grill need to be in Cranston?
Do I need a noncombustible enclosure for a backyard grill or fire pit in Cranston?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Cranston
Compare Cranston to another location·View the Rhode Island outdoor cooking overview
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