No Washtenaw County or state rule specifically covers backyard barbecue smokers. They are treated like other cooking appliances: legal at single-family homes, but persistent heavy smoke can trigger local nuisance enforcement, and multifamily balcony use follows the fire-code grill limits.
There is no dedicated smoker ordinance in Washtenaw County. A residential wood or pellet smoker used for cooking is generally lawful in a single-family backyard and is not "open burning," since it is a contained cooking appliance. However, if a smoker produces dense or continuous smoke that drifts onto neighbors, it can be addressed under local nuisance or air-quality provisions. At apartments and condos, the same fire-code restriction that bars grills on combustible balconies and within 10 feet of multifamily buildings applies to smokers. Keep smokers well ventilated, away from structures, and avoid prolonged smoke that disturbs neighbors.
Excessive-smoke complaints can be pursued as a municipal nuisance; multifamily balcony use violates the fire code and may draw removal orders and civil infraction fines.
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