Farmington Hills, MI Outdoor Cooking: BBQ & Propane Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Ground-level setback
- 8 feet from building (Sec. 12-14(2))
- Upper balconies
- Grills and gas stoves banned outright
- Applies to
- Apartments, townhouses, condos, similar occupancies
- Single-family comparison
- No distance limit under Sec. 12-14(1)
- First-offense fine
- $150 civil infraction minimum
Summary
Farmington Hills lets apartment, townhouse and condo residents keep charcoal or gas grills only on the ground level, at least eight feet from the building, and bans them outright on any balcony above ground level, a stricter standard than the exemption single-family homeowners get under the same open-burning ordinance.
Charcoal cookers, braziers, hibachis, grills or any gasoline or other flammable liquid and liquefied petroleum gas-fired stoves and similar devices maintained solely for the preparation of food on the ground level of any apartment building, townhouse, condominium, or similar occupancy, and are not less than eight (8) feet from every part of the building, including any portion of any balcony, overhang, or protrusion therefrom. It shall be unlawful to use the above-listed devices on balconies above ground level in any apartment building, townhouse, condominium or similar occupancy.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 36).
Full Breakdown
Sec. 12-14(2) of the open burning ordinance sets the multifamily grilling rule. ' A propane tank grill or charcoal kettle on a second-floor balcony is prohibited outright, no matter the distance from the building, while a ground-level unit's patio grill is legal only once it clears the eight-foot setback from the building wall, any overhang, and any balcony above it. The rule sits inside the same section, Sec. 12-14, that generally prohibits open burning citywide, so multifamily grilling is treated as a carved-out exception rather than a separately licensed activity; no permit or inspection is required once the placement and cooking-use conditions are met.
The distinction from single-family homes is deliberate: Sec. 12-14(1) allows the identical list of devices anywhere on the premises of a one-family detached dwelling with no distance requirement at all.
Violations & Fines
Grilling on an upper-floor balcony or within eight feet of a multifamily building is an open-burning violation under Sec. 12-14, enforced as a civil infraction per Sec. 1-25: a minimum $150 fine for a first offense and $250 for a repeat offense within three years, plus costs, with each day of noncompliance chargeable separately. Property managers and fire inspectors can order a noncompliant grill removed on the spot.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a propane grill on my apartment balcony in Farmington Hills?
How far from the building does a ground-floor grill have to be?
Do single-family homeowners face the same eight-foot grill rule?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Farmington Hills
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