Bowie, MD Outdoor Cooking: Smoker Rules (2026)

City of Bowie Code § 17-2B governs fires and grilling on City park property under Chapter 17, Park Rules and Regulations. Private grills may be used in designated family areas without a City permit, but any private grill with a cooking surface exceeding six square feet, or other specialized cooking equipment, is restricted to designated pavilions and group areas and requires a permit issued under standards the City Manager establishes. Oil fryers and steamers are banned outright in City parks unless a permit specifically allows them.

Every fire, whether in a fireplace, grill, or authorized location, must be extinguished before the user leaves the area. Subsection B(3) adds a strict unattended-fire rule: no one may leave a fire, hot grill, or hot ashes unattended, defined as no responsible person at least 18 years old staying within 10 feet of it. Because Subsection B is not among the exceptions listed in § 17-5, violating any of these grill or fire rules is charged as a municipal infraction, enforced under the general penalty and enforcement provisions of Chapter 1, §§ 1-6 and 1-6A, rather than as a misdemeanor.

Permits for grills with larger cooking surfaces or specialized equipment are obtained through the City Manager's office, and fees for use permits are set in the City budget under § 17-3A. Bowie park staff oversee facilities, while code enforcement issues citations for violations observed in the field. A group's standing permit can be revoked for improper use under § 17-3C, so anyone approved for pavilion grilling should follow the posted equipment limits closely to keep their reservation.