Lincoln, NE Outdoor Cooking: BBQ & Propane Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Valve location
- Same room, within 4 ft of outlet
- Governing code
- Gas Piping Systems Code, Ch. 24.05
- Permit required
- Yes, registered master gas fitter only
- Penalty
- $200-$500 fine or up to 6 months jail
Summary
Lincoln's Gas Piping Systems Code requires any fixed gas outlet built for a barbecue or fireplace to have an approved shutoff valve in the same room, no more than four feet from the outlet, installed under permit.
Gas outlets in a barbecue or fireplace shall be controlled by an approved operating valve located in the same room and outside the fireplace but not more than four feet from the outlets. If piping on the discharge side of the control valve is standard weight brass, galvanized steel, or black iron pipe, the piping may be embedded in or surrounded by not less than two inches of concrete or masonry.
Full Breakdown
Under Lincoln Municipal Code § 24.05.130(k), part of the city's Gas Piping Systems Code (Chapter 24.05), a permanent gas outlet installed for a barbecue or fireplace, the kind plumbed to a home's natural gas or LP-gas line, not a portable propane bottle, must be controlled by an approved shutoff valve in the same room, positioned no more than four feet from the outlet. Downstream piping in brass, galvanized steel, or black iron may be embedded in at least two inches of concrete or masonry. Only a registered master gas fitter can pull the required gas-piping permit under § 24.05.030, and the Administrative Authority inspects the work before use.
Violations & Fines
Violating the Gas Piping Systems Code is a misdemeanor under § 24.05.390: fines run $200 to $500 per day of violation, or up to six months in jail.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this rule cover portable propane grills?
Who can install a built-in gas barbecue line in Lincoln?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lincoln
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