Midwest City, OK Outdoor Cooking: Smoker Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Exempt fuels
- charcoal, wood, propane, natural gas
- Permit needed
- none for grills or smokers
- Governing law
- Code § 15-101(a), Article IV
- Burn-ban exception
- grills stay legal, § 15-105(e)
Summary
Midwest City exempts outdoor grilling and smoking with charcoal, wood, propane or natural gas from its open-burning ordinance, so backyard cooks need no burn permit, and Section 15-105 keeps barbecue and charcoal grills exempt even during burn bans.
This article does not apply to outdoor grilling or cooking using charcoal, wood, propane or natural gas in cooking or grilling appliances.(b)This article does not apply to burning for the purpose of generating heat in a stove, furnace, fireplace or other heating device within a building used for human or animal habitation.(c)This article does not apply to the use of propane, acetylene, natural gas, gasoline, or kerosene in a device intended for heating, construction or maintenance activities. (Ord. No. 3401, § 1, 2-11-20)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 21).
Full Breakdown
Article IV of Chapter 15 bans open burning citywide but Section 15-101(a) carves out 'outdoor grilling or cooking using charcoal, wood, propane or natural gas in cooking or grilling appliances,' so smokers and grills never need the Fire Department's burning permit required for brush piles and bonfires. Section 15-105(e) reinforces this: when the governor or county issues a burn ban, or humidity, heat index or ceiling limits kick in, the article still exempts 'barbecue, gas, and charcoal grills' from the shutdown. The exemption covers grilling appliances only, it does not reach separate nuisance, noise or setback rules that might apply to fixed outdoor kitchen structures.
Violations & Fines
No permit or violation applies to normal grill or smoker use. Using an unapproved fire that exceeds the grilling exemption is treated as illegal open burning, a misdemeanor with fines of $250-$500 per Section 15-112.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to use a smoker or grill in Midwest City?
Can I still grill during a burn ban?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Midwest City
Compare Midwest City to another location·View the Oklahoma outdoor cooking overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.