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

Madera County has no unique ordinance banning ordinary backyard barbecuing; outdoor cooking is governed by the California Fire Code adopted in county code Title 14, Division II, Chapter 14.35, plus NFPA 58 for the propane cylinder. Small consumer LP-gas cylinders used for barbecues and patio heaters at one- and two-family dwellings are treated as connected-for-use rather than bulk storage, so the bulk-tank permit thresholds (single tank over 2,000 gallons or aggregate over 4,000 gallons water capacity) do not apply to a typical 20-pound grill tank. The fire code does restrict where open flames and grills may be used at certain multifamily and assembly occupancies, and recreational/open fires must be kept clear of structures and combustibles (recreational fires 25 feet, portable outdoor fireplaces 15 feet). For ordinary home barbecuing, the practical requirements are common-sense fire safety: place the grill on a stable, non-combustible surface, keep it away from siding, eaves, fences and dry vegetation, never leave a lit grill unattended, and store spare propane cylinders outdoors and upright. In foothill and mountain State Responsibility Area properties, keep grilling areas within maintained defensible space and check for CAL FIRE seasonal restrictions or red-flag-day advisories before cooking outdoors, since high fire danger can prompt outdoor-fire limits.