Minnetonka, MN Outdoor Cooking: BBQ & Propane Rules (2026)

The grill rules sit in Appendix O of the state fire code, adopted in § 910.010 and rewritten by § 910.020 of the city code under the Minnetonka City Council. They apply to institutional, apartment or condominium buildings two or more stories in height. Item 1.2 prohibits storing or using any fuel, grill, torch, or other similar heating or lighting chemical or device in such a building, except as provided in section 1.3.

Section 1.3 then lists the grills that are allowed. Under 1.3.1, listed electric grills are allowed on balconies and patios provided they maintain an 18-inch clearance on all sides to combustibles, unless a greater clearance is specified by the manufacturer, and provided they are plugged directly into a GFI protected exterior outlet while in use. Under 1.3.2, listed natural gas fueled grills are allowed on balconies and patios provided they are permanently mounted and plumbed to the building's natural gas supply and maintain an 18-inch clearance on all sides to combustibles.

Propane is the strictest: item 1.3.3 says listed propane fueled grills are allowed only on ground level, and propane grills and cylinder storage is prohibited within 15 feet of the building. A resident cannot keep a spare propane cylinder on a balcony, and a ground level grill must be moved 15 feet from the wall. Item 1.3.4 treats charcoal grills and smokers the same way, ground level only and no use or storage within 15 feet of the building.

The fire marshal enforces these rules through orders under § 910.025. A recipient can file a written appeal or variance application with the city clerk within 30 days after the order is issued, and the variance standards in § 910.033 weigh the benefit of compliance and the effect on affordable housing while requiring that public safety be secure.