Detroit, MI Outdoor Cooking: Smoker Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- No permit needed
- for compliant backyard use
- Clearance
- 10 feet from structures/property line
- Placement
- rear or side yard only
- Cover
- not under a roof or enclosure
- Max fine
- $500 civil infraction
Summary
Detroit lets you run a smoker, grill, or barbecue in your own rear or side yard without a permit, as long as it stays clear of structures and stays supervised.
(b)The following forms of open burning are permitted in the City to the extent that such burning does not cause a nuisance:(1)Campfires using clean wood on private property owned or leased by the person directly supervising the campfire and not within ten feet of any fixed flammable object or property line; and(2)The operation of an outdoor cooking unit in a location that is:a.Within the rear yard or the side yard of private property and not within ten feet of any fixed flammable object or property line;b.Not directly beneath a roof or enclosure; andc.Under direct supervision of the property owner, lessee, or owner of the unit. (Code 1984, § 19-1-112; Ord. No. 13-17, § 1(19-1-112), eff. 6-9-2017)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 4).
Full Breakdown
Detroit Fire Prevention Code § 18-1-83(b)(2) exempts outdoor cooking units from the city's open-burning ban. The unit must sit in the rear or side yard, at least ten feet from any fixed flammable object or the property line, not directly under a roof or enclosure, and stay under the direct supervision of the property owner, lessee, or unit owner while burning. No Fire Department permit is required for ordinary backyard cooking, but the Fire Department can still cite the operation as a public nuisance and the property owner remains liable for any fire-suppression costs the blaze causes.
Violations & Fines
Municipal civil infraction, fine up to $500.00 under § 18-1-82(c) for unlawful open burning; the property owner also bears fire-suppression costs and other liability under § 18-1-84.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to use a smoker in my Detroit backyard?
Can I put my smoker on the front porch?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Detroit
Compare Detroit to another location·View the Michigan outdoor cooking overview
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Smoker Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Wayne County handle smoker rules.