Edison, NJ Outdoor Cooking: BBQ & Propane Rules (2026)

Edison Township has adopted the New Jersey Uniform Fire Code at N.J.A.C. 5:70 by reference, which incorporates the International Fire Code with New Jersey-specific amendments. The controlling provision for outdoor cooking is IFC §308.1.4 as amended by the NJ Division of Fire Safety: charcoal burners, other open-flame cooking devices, and outdoor fireplaces shall not be operated or stored on combustible balconies or decks, nor within 5 feet of combustible construction (vertically or horizontally), nor within 5 feet of any opening of any wall, nor under any building overhang. New Jersey amended Exception 1 to insert 'detached' before 'one- and two-family dwellings,' so the exception applies only to detached single-family and detached two-family houses - it does not apply to attached townhomes, condominiums, garden apartments, or multi-family buildings of any size. For LP-gas (propane) grills, IFC §308.1.4.1 adds a stricter rule: LP-gas containers with a water capacity greater than 2.5 pounds (which includes every standard 20-pound BBQ cylinder) shall not be located on combustible balconies or within 10 feet of combustible construction. The practical Edison result is that residents of apartments, condominiums, attached townhomes, and garden communities (including substantial portions of the Township) may not store or use propane or charcoal grills on balconies, terraces, or rooftops. Detached single-family homeowners may grill on their decks subject to common-sense fire safety setbacks from siding, eaves, and fences. Local enforcement is by the Edison Fire Prevention Bureau, which conducts annual Life Hazard Use inspections of multi-family buildings under the Uniform Fire Safety Act (N.J.S.A. 52:27D-192 et seq.).