Arlington, TX Outdoor Cooking: Smoker Rules (2026)

Arlington does not have a smoker-specific ordinance. Wood smokers, pellet grills, offset smokers, and wood-fired pizza ovens are legal on residential property and are not restricted by Tarrant County burn bans when used in commercially manufactured equipment for food preparation. Persistent dense smoke that materially interferes with neighbors' use of their property can be cited under Arlington City Code Chapter 8 (Health and Sanitation) as a public nuisance, but enforcement against residential backyard smoking is rare. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality regulates commercial wood-fired equipment but does not regulate residential smokers. Arlington Fire Department requires safe clearance from combustible construction under Chapter 11 (Fire Prevention) adopting the IFC. There is no permit, decibel limit, or time-of-day limit for residential smokers. For multi-family buildings the same IFC § 308 balcony restrictions as charcoal grills apply — wood/pellet smokers cannot be operated on combustible balconies within 10 feet of combustible construction. HOAs in townhomes and condos commonly impose stricter rules on smoker frequency, placement, and smoke control. Arlington is in the heart of Texas barbecue country and smokers are deeply rooted in local culture.