Lansing, MI Outdoor Cooking: BBQ & Propane Rules (2026)

Michigan's Fire Prevention Code (Public Act 207 of 1941, MCL 29.1 et seq.) directs the State Fire Marshal to adopt fire safety rules; the 2018 International Fire Code is adopted by reference for state-regulated occupancies, and Lansing applies the same framework locally through the Lansing Fire Department's Fire Prevention Bureau. IFC Section 308.1.4 controls open-flame cooking on or near combustible construction in Group R-1 (hotels, motels) and Group R-2 (apartments, condos) occupancies: no charcoal burner, gas grill, or other open-flame device may be operated on combustible balconies or within 10 feet of combustible construction. Three exceptions apply: (1) one- and two-family dwellings (R-3) — so single-family backyard grilling on Lansing's east side, south side, and west side is generally permitted; (2) balconies and adjacent areas protected by an automatic sprinkler system; and (3) LP-gas devices with a container of no more than 1 lb (2.5 lb water capacity), the small camping cylinder. This rule is heavily relevant in apartment buildings near downtown Lansing, the Old Town district, and the rental corridors flanking Michigan State University, where grill-caused fires have historically prompted enforcement. The Lansing Fire Department also enforces NFPA 58 (Liquefied Petroleum Gas Code) restrictions on cylinder storage — cylinders larger than 1 lb may not be stored on multifamily balconies. Michigan's open-burning rules (MCL 324.5512) and DNR burn permits govern recreational backyard fires but do not prohibit propane or charcoal cooking devices used as designed.