Outdoor Cooking in Wisconsin (2026)
18 rules on the books across Wisconsin, 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.
Fitchburg
Significant RestrictionsFitchburg City Code § 70-57(d)(1) bars using a charcoal, pellet or LP gas grill on a balcony, porch or wood deck…
Read full rule →Milwaukee
Significant RestrictionsCharcoal and LP gas grills must sit at least 15 feet from combustible construction in Milwaukee, unless the property is…
Read full rule →Appleton
Some RestrictionsCharcoal burners and open-flame grills cannot sit on a combustible balcony or within 10 feet of combustible…
Read full rule →Ashwaubenon
Some RestrictionsAshwaubenon's short-term rental ordinance bans hibachis, gas grills and charcoal grills on any balcony, deck or under…
Read full rule →Burlington
Some RestrictionsOutside one- and two-family homes, Burlington bans kindling any hibachi, gas grill, charcoal grill or similar cooking…
Read full rule →De Pere
Some RestrictionsDe Pere exempts residential cooking grills from its open burning ban under Code § 58-9(c), but multifamily buildings…
Read full rule →Green Bay
Some RestrictionsGreen Bay allows recreational fire pits, portable fire pits and propane fire tables on single- and two-family lots…
Read full rule →Kenosha
Some RestrictionsKenosha's fire code treats backyard grills as regulated open burning: outdoor cooking fires must burn in a metal…
Read full rule →New Berlin
Some RestrictionsNew Berlin bars hibachis, grills, kettles and similar cooking or heating devices from balconies, from under any…
Read full rule →Rothschild
Some RestrictionsRothschild bans hibachis, grills and similar cooking or heating devices from balconies, overhangs and within 10 feet of…
Read full rule →Waukesha County
Some RestrictionsFor single-family homes, grilling is generally unrestricted. On multi-family premises the Town of Waukesha bans…
Read full rule →Wausau
Some RestrictionsWausau permits gas and charcoal grilling under Municipal Code § 17.24.010(a), but multi-family buildings with three or…
Read full rule →Wauwatosa
Some RestrictionsWauwatosa's fire code bars igniting or burning any type of barbecue grill inside a building, requires grills to stay at…
Read full rule →Middleton
Light RestrictionsGrilling with LP or natural gas, charcoal or dry wood in vessels made for cooking is exempt from Middleton's…
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.
Burlington
Some RestrictionsBeyond the grill and fire-pit placement rules, Burlington's Fire Prevention chapter caps every outdoor cooking device…
Read full rule →Fitchburg
Some RestrictionsFitchburg City Code § 70-57(d) allows charcoal, pellet, solid-fuel and LP gas-fueled outdoor cooking devices but…
Read full rule →Milwaukee
Light RestrictionsMilwaukee exempts charcoal and propane grills and smokers on one- and two-family properties from the 15-foot…
Read full rule →Outdoor Kitchen Permits
Building permits for built-in outdoor kitchens, including gas line installation, electrical, plumbing, structural permits, and setback rules from the main house.