Aurora, CO Outdoor Cooking: Smoker Rules (2026)

Aurora treats backyard smokers (offset, pellet, kamado) under the general IFC framework rather than a dedicated provision. Single-family use is permitted under Stage 1 burn restrictions, which apply year-round and ban fireworks and unattended open burning but allow gas, charcoal, and wood-fueled cooking devices. Stage 2 restrictions, declared by the Aurora Fire Marshal during high fire-danger periods, prohibit recreational fires and outdoor smoking but typically still permit grills and smokers used responsibly. On multifamily balconies, the IFC 308.1.4 rule applies the same way to charcoal and wood-burning smokers as it does to grills: prohibited within 10 feet of combustible construction unless the balcony is sprinklered. The Regional Air Quality Council declares Action Day restrictions on the Front Range during winter inversions; under Colorado Air Quality Control Commission Regulation 4, residential wood burning is restricted on declared High Pollution Days, which can include wood-fired smokers. The Aurora general nuisance provisions in City Code 62-26 reach repeated offensive smells that taint the air, providing a backstop for persistent smoke complaints. HOA CC&Rs in deed-restricted neighborhoods (Saddle Rock, Tallyn's Reach, Murphy Creek) often impose tighter limits.