Howell, NJ Outdoor Cooking: BBQ & Propane Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Charcoal and wood-burning grills
- Strictly prohibited in all Howell Township public parks
- Propane gas grills
- Allowed with a Howell Township Fire Bureau permit
- Permit fee
- Identified in Chapter 139
- Prerequisite
- Field approval by lease or permit before the grill permit
- Fine range
- $100 to $1,000, up to 90 days, or community service
- Added to code
- 4-6-2015 by Ord. No. O-15-14
Summary
In Howell Township, New Jersey public parks, charcoal and wood-burning grills are strictly prohibited. Propane gas grills are allowed only with a permit from the Howell Township Fire Bureau, and the user must also hold field approval by lease or permit.
G. Use of charcoal and wood-burning grills is strictly prohibited in all public parks within the Township of Howell. However, use of propane gas grills shall be permitted provided that the necessary permit is issued from the Howell Township Fire Bureau. The permit fee is identified in Chapter 139. All users must also have the necessary approval for use of the field (by lease or permit) prior to issuance of the Howell Township Fire Bureau permit.
Full Breakdown
The grill rule is in Chapter 233, the Public Park and Playground Facility Use Policy that the Township Council adopted on 9-9-2014 by Ord. No. O-14-21. Subsection G of § 233-2 was added on 4-6-2015 by Ord. No. O-15-14. It applies to all public parks within the Township of Howell, not to private backyards, balconies or multifamily properties, which this chapter does not address.
Charcoal and wood-burning grills are strictly prohibited in every public park. Propane gas grills are the only permitted type, and only when the necessary permit is issued by the Howell Township Fire Bureau. The permit fee is identified in Chapter 139, the Township's fee chapter. A grill user must also have the necessary approval for use of the field, by lease or permit, before the Fire Bureau issues the grill permit. In practice that means the field reservation comes first and the grill permit second, and § 233-7 of the same chapter sets out how field applications work through the Department of Public Works at 4567 Route 9 North.
The grill clause sits beside other park rules in § 233-2. Open fires are prohibited under subsection E, except when approved by the Township and any government agencies having jurisdiction. Picnicking is limited to places designated for that purpose under subsection (17), and pet waste, trash and glass handling rules apply on park grounds. Indoor activities must end by 11:00 p.m. unless prior written approval is obtained, unlighted outdoor activities must end by sunset, and activities at lighted facilities end by 10:00 p.m. unless otherwise approved.
Enforcement under § 233-12 belongs to the Code Enforcement Officer, the Director of Land Use and any member of the Township of Howell Police Department.
Violations & Fines
Under § 233-12, a person who violates Chapter 233 is subject, on conviction, to one or more of the following: a fine of not more than $1,000 and not less than $100, imprisonment not exceeding 90 days, or community service not exceeding 90 days. The Township also keeps the right under § 233-12B to deny use of any municipal park, playground or facility where the applicant violated the chapter on more than three occasions, and § 233-4B allows an event to be curtailed for failure to follow the policy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a charcoal grill in a Howell Township park?
Do I need a permit to use a propane grill at a Howell park?
What do I need before the Fire Bureau issues the grill permit?
Does this rule cover my own backyard grill in Howell?
What is the penalty for using a charcoal grill in a park?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Howell
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