Rochester, NY Outdoor Cooking: BBQ & Propane Rules (2026)

Chapter 54 of the Rochester City Code adopts the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code, which incorporates the International Fire Code (IFC) at 19 NYCRR Part 1225 with NY amendments. Under IFC Section 308.1.4, charcoal burners and other open-flame cooking devices and LP-gas cooking appliances having more than a 1-pound LP-gas container shall not be operated on combustible balconies or within 10 feet of combustible construction. The restriction does not apply to one- and two-family dwellings, where a standard backyard propane or charcoal grill is allowed in the rear yard subject to general nuisance rules. LP-gas container storage is regulated by IFC Chapter 61: in one- and two-family homes, propane containers up to 20-pound (5 gallon) capacity are typical for grill use, with no more than two such cylinders permitted on a single-family premise in some local interpretations and DOT-approved cylinders required. Indoor storage of LP-gas cylinders inside a dwelling is prohibited. Rochester Fire Marshal staff in the Rochester Fire Department enforce these provisions on multifamily and commercial properties.