Hackensack, NJ Outdoor Cooking: BBQ & Propane Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- § 88-6C (amended 4-25-2023)
- Banned fuel
- Propane and other open lighted fuel
- Exception
- Charcoal and electric grills allowed
- Applies to
- Balconies and other building portions
Summary
Hackensack bans portable grills and open lighted fuel such as propane, wood, paper or synthetic material on balconies or any other portion of a building. Charcoal and electric grills are specifically excluded from the ban, so they remain the only balcony-cooking option under Chapter 88.
Cooking on balconies (supplement to N.J.A.C. 5:70-3, 308.1.4.1). The use of portable grills and open lighted fuel, such as propane, wood, paper, synthetic material, etc., on balconies or other portions of a building is prohibited. Specifically excluded from the operation of this section is the use of charcoal or electric grills.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4592721; v20 updated 2026-01-06; through 01-06-2026).
Full Breakdown
Section 88-6C, added as a supplement to the state Uniform Fire Code provision N.J.A.C. 5:70-3, 308.1.4.1, and amended April 25, 2023 by Ordinance No. 22-2023, is Hackensack's local balcony-cooking rule. It reads that the use of portable grills and open lighted fuel, such as propane, wood, paper, synthetic material, on balconies or other portions of a building is prohibited, then carves out an exception: charcoal or electric grills are specifically excluded from the operation of the section. In practice this makes propane and other open-flame portable grills off-limits on any balcony or building portion in the city, whether the building is a single-family home or a multifamily apartment complex, while allowing residents to use charcoal or electric grills instead. The rule is enforced by the Hackensack Fire Prevention Bureau as part of its Chapter 88 authority to administer the Uniform Fire Safety Act and Uniform Fire Code locally, alongside the chapter's other fire-lane, hazardous-materials and alarm provisions.
Violations & Fines
Chapter 88 enforcement, violations and penalties run through the Uniform Fire Safety Act and N.J. Uniform Fire Code per Section 88-11, with the general Section 1-15 penalty applying where no specific fine is otherwise set: up to $2,000, imprisonment up to 90 days, or community service up to 90 days, with continuing violations treated as separate daily offenses. Appeals from a Fire Prevention Bureau determination go to the Bergen County Construction Board of Appeals under Section 88-10.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a propane grill on my Hackensack apartment balcony?
What grills are allowed on a balcony in Hackensack?
Who enforces the balcony grill rule?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Hackensack
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