Saint Paul, MN Outdoor Cooking: Smoker Rules (2026)

There is no provision in the Saint Paul Legislative Code specifically addressing residential smokers, pellet grills, offset pits, or wood-fired ovens at single-family or two-family homes. Standard backyard smoking is treated as ordinary residential cooking and is not regulated. At multi-unit buildings (3+ dwelling units), IFC §308.1.4 — adopted via Minn. Rules Ch. 7511 — extends to smokers because pellet grills, offset pits, and wood-fired ovens are 'open-flame' or solid-fuel cooking devices and are prohibited on combustible balconies or within 10 feet of combustible construction. Smoke that substantially and unreasonably crosses property lines may be addressed under Saint Paul Legislative Code Chapter 45 (Property Maintenance Code) and Chapter 56 (Public Nuisances), with enforcement by the Department of Safety and Inspections. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) regulates outdoor air quality and issues Air Quality Alerts for the Twin Cities — these are advisory and do not impose binding restrictions on residential smokers, though MPCA recommends voluntary curtailment of recreational wood burning on alert days. Saint Paul has separately adopted stricter recreational fire regulations than Minneapolis; recreational fires in fire pits are regulated under Legislative Code Chapter 51 (Fire Prevention and Protection) with size, fuel, and setback limits, but small contained smokers using charcoal or pellets are generally not subject to those rules.