Miami, FL Outdoor Cooking: Smoker Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Allowed fuel
- Charcoal only, in provided grills
- Open fires
- Banned everywhere except park grills
- Enforced by
- Parks & Recreation staff, city police
- Exception
- Robert King High Park group camping permit
- Penalty
- Up to $500 fine, 60 days jail
Summary
Miami parks ban open fires entirely: cooking is allowed only in the charcoal grills the city installs, and no other fuel, including gas or wood, is permitted in any park.
No fires are permitted in the parks, except in the grills provided. Charcoal is the only fuel permitted for use in the grills, and use of any other fuel is prohibited. Special rules for fires at the Robert King High Park group camping facility are listed on the permit to use that facility.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 23 | Ordinance 11000 (Previous Zoning Code): Supplement 22 | Miami 21 (Zoning Code): ?).
Full Breakdown
The rule covers every park area assigned to Miami's Department of Parks and Recreation: no fires except in the grills the city provides, and charcoal is the only legal fuel, propane, wood, and other fuels are barred. Group camping at Robert King High Park runs under its own permit rules. Picnicking without a fire is fine anywhere in the park, but cooking fires are limited to the provided grills, meant for family and group picnics, using them to run a food stand, 'fire kitchen,' or soup line is expressly prohibited. Parks and Recreation staff and city police enforce the rule.
Violations & Fines
No specific fine is set in Chapter 38; violations fall under the Code's general penalty, Sec. 1-13: up to $500 and/or 60 days in jail, with each day a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I bring my own grill to a Miami park?
What fuel can I use in a Miami park grill?
Can I run a food stand off a park grill?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Miami
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Miami to another location·View the Florida outdoor cooking overview
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Smoker Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Miami-Dade County handle smoker rules.