Odessa, TX Outdoor Cooking: BBQ & Propane Rules (2026)

Odessa's Fire Marshal's Office says the adopted International Fire Code sets a 10-foot clearance between open-flame cooking appliances, charcoal grills, propane grills, and similar devices, and combustible surfaces or structures at multi-family buildings that lack automatic fire sprinklers. The rule targets balconies, porches, and patios in apartment complexes where flames sit close to exterior walls and neighboring units. Sprinklered buildings fall outside this specific clearance requirement. Beyond the code minimum, apartment management can add its own ban on open-flame appliances through the lease, and tenants should check their lease terms in addition to the city rule.