Tacoma, WA Outdoor Cooking: BBQ & Propane Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Allowed fuel
- propane or charcoal briquettes only
- Banned fuel
- wood and other sources
- Allowed locations
- picnic stoves, portable BBQs
- Portable BBQs
- cooking food only
Summary
In Tacoma's city parks, open fires are banned except in Director-installed picnic stoves or portable barbecues, which may burn only propane or charcoal briquettes.
Fires are prohibited except in picnic stoves installed under the authority of the Director or in portable barbeques. Fires in any other facility or area are allowed only by special permit. Fires in picnic stoves or portable barbeques may only utilize propane or charcoal briquettes as fuel; all other fuel sources, including wood, are specifically prohibited. Portable barbeques may be utilized only for cooking food. Briquettes must be completely extinguished and properly disposed of or removed from the park. The Director may further restrict the use of barbeques within any park, provided that signs are installed to notify patrons of the restrictions. (Ord. 19224 § 2, 1970-11-04; Ord. 27630 Ex. A, 2007-07-10)
Full Breakdown
Tacoma's park code bans open fires in city parks except in picnic stoves the Metropolitan Park District has installed or in portable barbecues; any other fire location needs a special permit. Picnic stoves and portable barbecues may burn only propane or charcoal briquettes, wood and other fuels are specifically prohibited, and portable grills may be used solely for cooking food. Briquettes must be fully extinguished and removed or disposed of, and the Director can post further barbecue restrictions at individual parks. This governs park grounds; it does not address balcony or private-yard grills, which fall outside the park code.
Violations & Fines
Using wood or another banned fuel, lighting a fire outside a stove or portable barbecue without a special permit, or ignoring posted park restrictions is enforced as a Class 1 civil infraction under TMC § 8.27.250.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a charcoal grill in a Tacoma park?
Are wood campfires allowed in Tacoma parks?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Tacoma
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