Upland, CA Outdoor Cooking: Smoker Rules (2026)

There is no Upland ordinance written specifically for barbecue smokers; they are treated as open-flame outdoor cooking devices under the California Fire Code adopted via the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District (SBCFPD) Fire Code in Upland Municipal Code Chapter 8.28. Under California Fire Code Section 308, charcoal, wood, and propane cooking devices — including smokers — generally cannot be operated on combustible balconies or within 10 feet of combustible construction at apartment houses, condominiums, and similar multi-family buildings unless the building is sprinklered. At single-family homes that multi-family limit does not apply, but place a smoker a safe distance from siding, eaves, wood fences, and dry vegetation, keep it attended, and store any propane cylinder per Fire Code Chapter 61. Two other points matter for smokers specifically. First, fuel: a smoker uses clean wood, wood pellets, or charcoal — burning trash or treated/painted wood is never allowed, consistent with South Coast AQMD rules. Second, smoke nuisance: heavy, persistent smoke drifting onto neighbors could be addressed as a nuisance under the city's general nuisance and code-enforcement authority, so position the smoker to limit drift. In the north Upland foothills, which are a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone, use extra care on hot, dry, or windy days and keep a hose or extinguisher handy.