Upper Darby, PA Outdoor Cooking: BBQ & Propane Rules (2026)

4 of that code, the section governing open-flame cooking devices such as charcoal grills and propane barbecues used near buildings and balconies: the Township amendment removes Exceptions 1, 2 and 3 from that section entirely. Because the underlying exceptions are gone, none of the carve-outs that the base International Fire Code would otherwise allow apply within Upper Darby; the restriction on open-flame cooking equipment near structures and balconies applies across the board. 4 is amended to insert fines of $300 and $1,000. Enforcement runs through the Township's inspection program: the Chief Administrative Officer or Fire Department inspector gives at least five days' notice before inspecting a property, and after an inspection any violation must be corrected within a Department-set timeframe, with re-inspections every 30 days until it is fixed.

A violation the Fire Chief deems a life-safety hazard can result in immediate closure of the property until it is corrected, underscoring how strictly the amended open-flame cooking rule is meant to be enforced against noncompliant grill or barbecue setups on balconies and near structures.