Sammamish, WA Outdoor Cooking: BBQ & Propane Rules (2026)

Outdoor cooking with propane (LP-gas) and charcoal barbecue grills is permitted in Sammamish. Eastside Fire & Rescue, which provides fire prevention services to the city, confirms that fires in manufactured cooking devices do not require a burn permit, so a standard propane or charcoal grill can be used without applying for a permit. Recreational and cooking fires are also exempt from the yard-waste burning ban because they burn charcoal or seasoned wood rather than refuse. The main regulatory limits come from the 2021 Washington State Fire Code, adopted by the city under SMC 16.05.130. The fire code restricts the use and storage of open-flame and LP-gas cooking appliances near combustible construction, particularly for apartments, condominiums, and other multifamily buildings, where grills and LP-gas containers are generally not permitted on combustible balconies or within a set distance of the structure unless the building is protected by automatic sprinklers. For single-family homes, propane grills are widely allowed, but propane cylinders should be stored upright outdoors away from ignition sources, and grills should be operated a safe distance from the house, deck railings, and overhangs. During PSCAA air-quality burn bans, manufactured-device cooking with propane or natural gas generally remains allowed because it is not 'outdoor burning,' but residents should confirm the terms of any active ban. As always, smoke and odors should not create a nuisance for neighbors.