Mariposa County, CA Outdoor Cooking: BBQ & Propane Rules (2026)

Backyard barbecuing in unincorporated Mariposa County is not governed by a city or county BBQ ordinance; instead, the relevant rules come from the California Fire Code and the propane-storage standards in Fire Code Chapter 61 and NFPA 58, plus the county's wildfire-safety context. Propane (LP-gas) grill cylinders, typically 20-pound tanks, must be stored and used outdoors, kept upright and secured, and placed away from building openings and ignition sources; they must never be stored in basements, pits, or unventilated underfloor spaces where heavier-than-air gas can collect. The Fire Code limits the amount of LP-gas that can be stored at a residence and sets clearance distances from openings. For wildfire safety, grills should be operated on a noncombustible surface with clearance from dry grass, brush, fences, and overhanging eaves, consistent with the defensible-space mindset required by PRC 4291. Because almost the entire county is a State Responsibility Area in High or Very High fire hazard zones, residents should be aware that during Red Flag Warnings or local fire restrictions, open-flame cooking and charcoal grills (which produce embers) can be restricted, especially on public lands and in campgrounds; gas grills with a shutoff are generally treated more leniently than open charcoal or wood fires. Never leave a lit grill unattended, and have water or an extinguisher nearby.