Jacksonville, FL Outdoor Cooking: Smoker Rules (2026)

No section of the Jacksonville Code of Ordinances specifically regulates backyard smokers, pellet grills, ceramic kamado grills, or wood-fired pizza ovens. At single-family and two-family dwellings, recreational smoking and grilling are treated as ordinary household activities. However, sustained or excessive smoke that drifts onto neighboring property can be addressed under Code Chapter 360 (Air Pollution Control) - administered by the Environmental Quality Division - and Chapter 614 (Public Nuisances). The Florida Air Pollution rules at FAC 62-296 prohibit objectionable odors that unreasonably interfere with the comfortable use of property. At multi-family buildings, smokers and pellet grills are treated like other open-flame cooking devices under NFPA 1 Sec. 10.11.7 and must remain 10 feet from the structure (unless single- or two-family). Open burning of yard waste is separately regulated by the Florida Forest Service and Jacksonville Ch. 360; smokers and pellet grills using commercially-prepared fuel pellets or charcoal are not considered open burning. HOAs commonly impose smoke and odor restrictions; check the recorded declaration.