Outdoor Cooking in Washington (2026)
20 rules on the books across Washington, 15 cities and counties. Select a rule to read the full details.
Severity: Few Restrictions · Light Restrictions · Some Restrictions · Significant Restrictions · Heavy Restrictions
BBQ & Propane Rules
When you can use a propane or charcoal grill on a balcony, deck, or patio. Many fire codes prohibit propane on multi-family balconies; some cities ban charcoal anywhere within 10 feet of a building.
Bellevue
Some RestrictionsBellevue caps LPG containers used with portable outdoor barbecues on occupied roofs of apartment and condo buildings…
Read full rule →Chelan County
Some RestrictionsChelan County requires every short-term rental's property management plan to include a fire protection plan restricting…
Read full rule →Clark County
Some RestrictionsWashington did NOT adopt the model fire-code ban (IFC 308.1.4) on grills on balconies, so propane and charcoal grills…
Read full rule →Everett
Some RestrictionsEverett's fire code makes all outdoor burning within city limits unlawful, but carves out real exceptions for cooking…
Read full rule →Renton
Some RestrictionsPortable barbecues used in Renton parks must be no more than thirty-six inches long and at least thirty inches tall…
Read full rule →Snohomish County
Some RestrictionsCharcoal barbecues and cooking fires are allowed on private property in unincorporated Snohomish County as recreational…
Read full rule →Tacoma
Some RestrictionsIn Tacoma's city parks, open fires are banned except in Director-installed picnic stoves or portable barbecues, which…
Read full rule →Yakima County
Some RestrictionsIn the Wildland-Urban Interface areas that cover most of unincorporated Yakima County, any outdoor fire needs a written…
Read full rule →Island County
Light RestrictionsIsland County exempts barbeque grills that use propane or briquettes, along with self-contained camp stoves, from both…
Read full rule →Pierce County
Few RestrictionsPropane grilling is allowed across the Pierce County park system, no permit needed for the fuel type itself. PCC…
Read full rule →Smoker Rules
Rules for backyard smokers, pellet grills, and wood-fired ovens including smoke-nuisance enforcement, time-of-day limits, and HOA restrictions.
Bellevue
Some RestrictionsBellevue bans open burning citywide under a 1992 Puget Sound Clean Air Agency ban, but bonfires, recreational fires and…
Read full rule →Chelan County
Some RestrictionsPortable fireplaces, chimineas, and gas camp stoves stay legal in unincorporated Chelan County's early fire-restriction…
Read full rule →Grant County
Some RestrictionsIn unincorporated Grant County, gas barbeques and charcoal-start grills are exempt from the county's summer burn ban…
Read full rule →Lakewood
Some RestrictionsLakewood, Washington bans open flame campfires in all City of Lakewood parks under LMC 8.76.160. Barbecues, camp…
Read full rule →Pierce County
Some RestrictionsCharcoal and wood-pellet cooking is restricted in Pierce County parks: PCC 14.08.080(C) confines it to sites equipped…
Read full rule →Snohomish County
Some RestrictionsA charcoal or wood-fired smoker on private property is a cooking fire under Puget Sound Clean Air Agency rules: keep it…
Read full rule →Spokane County
Some RestrictionsA charcoal or wood-fired smoker, grill or barbecue used for cooking on private property in unincorporated Spokane…
Read full rule →Yakima County
Some RestrictionsYakima County's fire code lets the fire code official declare a burn ban whenever conditions make open fires hazardous…
Read full rule →Lewis County
Light RestrictionsLewis County's adopted fire code exempts a contained barbecue pit from the standard 50-foot bonfire setback, but any…
Read full rule →Auburn
Few RestrictionsAuburn's tight outdoor-burning law makes one clean carve-out for cooking: ACC 8.32.030 exempts domestic barbecues…
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