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

150-1, lists a dedicated entry for a stationary barbecue, fire pit or propane tank, separate from the entry covering garages, sheds and workshops. The table sets a ten-foot setback with a reduced three-foot minimum allowed in non-high-fire zone areas of the city; in a high or very high fire hazard severity zone, the table directs the owner to contact the city before placement to confirm the minimum distance needed to comply with the California Fire Code. The same standard applies at multi-family properties, where the table again lists stationary barbecues, fire pits and propane tanks on their own line rather than folding them into the general accessory-structure setbacks that apply to garages and storage sheds.

This placement standard sits alongside the section's other residential accessory-use rules: a detached accessory structure generally cannot exceed 1,000 square feet or 40 percent of the required rear yard, though the code specifically carves out a covered patio or barbecue area from that floor-area calculation. Height for any accessory structure, including a built-in barbecue island, is capped at the zone's general height limit and cannot exceed the height of the primary residence on the lot. Because the setback table treats the barbecue, fire pit and propane tank as one line item, a resident planning a stationary grill or propane tank placement should check both the base ten-foot figure and whether the parcel falls inside a mapped high or very high fire hazard severity zone, which changes the required distance and requires city sign-off before installation.