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

Outdoor cooking with propane or charcoal is permitted throughout the City of Santa Barbara, subject to the City Fire Code (Municipal Code Chapter 8.04, Ordinance No. 5920). For homes in the City's High Fire Hazard Area, Fire Code Section 4909.10 requires that 'permanent barbeques, portable barbeques, outdoor fireplaces or grills' be 'a minimum of 30 feet from grass, grain, brush or forested areas, maintained in good repair and in a safe condition at all times,' with openings covered by an approved spark arrester, screen, or door (an exception allows unprotected openings necessary for proper functioning). Barbecues may never be used to dispose of rubbish or combustible waste. For propane specifically, amended Section 308.1.4.1 prohibits LP-gas burners with a container larger than 25 pounds / 5 gallons water capacity on combustible balconies or within 10 feet of combustible construction, except at one- and two-family dwellings - so apartment and condo balconies are limited to small cylinders. A standard 20-pound barbecue tank at a single-family home is not restricted by that section. Charcoal and ash disposal in the High Fire Hazard Area is regulated by Section 4909.12: coals must be fully extinguished and kept in a noncombustible covered container at least 10 feet from vegetation. The Santa Barbara County APCD does not require permits for recreational cooking, but residential waste burning remains banned.