Berkeley, CA Outdoor Cooking: Smoker Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing law
- BMC Chapter 6.15 (Ord. 6701-NS, 2002)
- Covers
- Parks, streets, sidewalks, medians, rights-of-way
- Barbecues allowed
- Inside City parks only
- Fires allowed
- Only pre-existing park apparatus built for it
- Exempt flames
- Hand-held, two inches or less (cigarettes, candles)
- Penalty
- Misdemeanor under Section 6.15.050
- Enforcement
- City Manager, posted park restrictions
Summary
Berkeley Municipal Code Chapter 6.15 prohibits barbecues and open fires on public property including parks, sidewalks, streets, median strips and rights-of-way, unless the fire is a permitted street event or block party, a pre-approved City facility barbecue, a barbecue inside a City park, or a fire in a pre-existing park apparatus built for it. The City Manager enforces additional posted park restrictions.
A. All barbecues or fires on public property are prohibited, except:
1. Fires or barbecues permitted pursuant to Chapter 13.44 ("Street Events" and "Block Parties", as defined therein), Chapter 6.020.260.B (prior written approval from the Marina Supervisor), or barbecues at a City facility pre-approved by the City Manager;
2. Barbecues in a City park; or
3. Fires contained in a pre-existing apparatus designed for fires in a City park that specifically allows fires.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 8031-NS, passed July 28, 2026).
Full Breakdown
15 of the Berkeley Municipal Code, adopted by Ordinance 6701-NS in 2002, bans combustion-based cooking and open flame on any public property in Berkeley: city parks, buildings, facilities, streets, sidewalks, median strips, parking strips and rights-of-way, plus the landscaping on that property. 020 defines a 'barbecue' as burning gas, charcoal, paper or wood in a fully-contained apparatus built for the purpose, while a 'fire' is any other combustion except a hand-held flame no longer than two inches, meaning cigarettes, cigars and candles are outside the ban.
44's street event and block party permits, marina barbecues approved in advance by the Marina Supervisor, barbecues at a City facility pre-approved by the City Manager, and barbecues located inside a City park. A fire contained in apparatus that a City park was specifically built to allow, such as a fixed fire ring, is also permitted. The City Manager can tighten the rules further for any park by posting additional restrictions there, and ignoring a posted sign is itself a violation of the chapter under subsection C.
04) are exempt from this chapter entirely, so a permitted food truck's grill is not covered. The chapter states plainly that it governs only where a fire or barbecue may be located; anyone with a fire still has to comply with every other fire-safety law that applies.
Violations & Fines
Section 6.15.050 makes any violation of Chapter 6.15 a misdemeanor, Berkeley's standard charge for an unauthorized fire or barbecue on parks, sidewalks, streets or other public property. Ignoring a City Manager's posted park restriction under Section 6.15.030(C) is treated as its own separate violation of the chapter. Police and park rangers can cite a person on the spot; there is no separate administrative fine schedule written into this chapter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a portable propane grill in a Berkeley park?
Is a campfire allowed on Berkeley public property?
What happens if I violate Berkeley's barbecue ban?
Do food trucks need to follow the barbecue ban?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Berkeley
California rules heatmap·Compare Berkeley to another location·View the California outdoor cooking overview
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