Fire Code for Outdoor Grills: What Every Property Owner and Multifamily Resident Needs To Know

People love their grills, and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. 

However, outdoor cooking remains one of the leading causes of residential fires. In fact, the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) reports nearly 5,700 grill-related fires each year. 

Now, that is a massive liability for multifamily buildings. When speaking about this, the CEO of MMCC, Menachem Moster, said: 

"Grill fires spread fast in multifamily properties because one person’s mistake becomes everyone’s problem."

Whether you’re managing a NYC building, developing new multifamily housing, or navigating compliance rules as a condo association, you need clarity. 

Fire codes for outdoor grills are strict for a reason, and understanding them helps you prevent violations, fines, property damage, and worst of all, preventable loss of life.

Here’s what matters most.

Why Fire Codes Regulate Outdoor Grills in Multifamily Buildings

When people ask why fire codes care about outdoor grills, the answer is simple. Grills create open flames near combustible surfaces. One small flare-up can race up a wall, jump a balcony, or ignite a façade before anyone notices.

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), 61% of home grill fires occur in multifamily buildings. That stat alone is enough to get any property manager’s attention.

You’re not just dealing with one household’s risk. You’re dealing with stacked units, shared escape routes, limited egress, and fuel sources that escalate the danger.

The Core Rules of the Fire Code for Outdoor Grills

The NFPA Fire Code gives clear rules on where grills can be used or stored. These rules are the basis for local enforcement across the country.

You’ll see these referenced over and over in municipal fire codes because they work.

The 10 Foot Safety Rule

NFPA 1 states that hibachis, charcoal grills, gas grills, and similar devices cannot be used within 10 feet of any structure in multifamily buildings (NFPA 1:10.10.6.1).

That includes:

• Balconies

• Decks

• Overhangs

• Exterior walls

This is the rule many residents unknowingly violate, especially in high-rise and mid-rise properties.

Balcony Use Restrictions

The code is strict:

• No charcoal grills

• No propane grills

• No gas grills

• No open flame cooking devices

The only exception is a listed portable electric grill with a surface area under 200 square inches, which aligns with exceptions referenced in NFPA 1 and various state fire codes.

This matters because electric grills dramatically reduce ignition risk and eliminate gas tank hazards.

What Type of Grill Is Allowed in Multifamily Buildings?

This is where most property managers get tripped up. The rules don’t just regulate use. They regulate storage, fuel type, and location.

Why Propane Tanks Are Restricted Above the First Floor

Propane is highly flammable. Even small leaks can create explosive conditions.

The NFPA limits storage inside multifamily buildings to tiny cylinders with a maximum water capacity of 2.7 lbs per unit, nowhere near the size used for typical grills (NFPA 1:69.5.3).

This means:

• No 20 lb propane tanks indoors

• No propane tanks on balconies

• No propane tanks in shared storage rooms

This rule protects lives. Propane is heavier than air. If it leaks, it sinks, pools, and spreads. A single ignition source can turn a balcony into a pressure-fed blowtorch.

Why Most High-Rise and Mid-Rise Buildings Ban Grills Entirely

Even though fire codes provide narrow exceptions, many buildings adopt stricter rules.

NFPA data shows grill fires cause roughly 4,000 structure fires per year (NFPA Data), and multifamily housing amplifies the consequences. One small flare can force mass evacuations.

This is why many condo boards and property management companies choose a complete prohibition, even beyond what fire codes require.

If you’re a property manager, board member, or developer, you want to avoid becoming tomorrow’s headline. The math is simple. Regulations tighten after loss events. Compliance up front avoids the pain.

Understanding How Fire Codes Apply to Different Building Types

One of the biggest misconceptions you’ll deal with is the idea that “everyone grills, so it must be fine.” 

In reality, the fire code draws a sharp line between one and two-family homes and multifamily buildings for a reason.

In a private home, the fire affects one household.In a multifamily building, the fire affects dozens.

According to the NFPA, 49% of grill fires occur on balconies or porches where combustibles are often present. That detail alone explains why balconies are treated as high-risk zones.

Let’s break down what the code actually requires based on building type.

Single Family Homes vs Multifamily Buildings

If you manage or live in a duplex, townhouse, or detached home, the rules are more flexible. The NFPA explicitly exempts one and two-family dwellings from many grill restrictions.

Multifamily buildings, however, come with heightened safety risks because of:

• Shared walls

• Stacked units

• Limited escape routes

• Exterior combustible materials

• Higher occupant density

This is why open flame devices are banned on balconies in multifamily buildings unless protected by a complete sprinkler system.

Even then, local jurisdictions often override the exception to eliminate risk entirely.

The Role of Sprinkler Systems in Grill Exceptions

The International Fire Code includes a narrow exception. If an automatic sprinkler system fully protects a building’s deck or balcony, then a grill may be permitted.

However, many local fire marshals interpret this differently. Some state that sprinklers do not mitigate risk when combustible materials are within 10 feet of the grill, which is almost always the case on residential balconies.

This is why, even when sprinklers exist:

• Property managers ban grills

• HOA boards restrict outdoor cooking

• Fire departments issue advisories

The safest strategy is simple. If it’s a multifamily building, assume that open flame grills are not allowed unless explicitly stated otherwise by your local fire authority.

How Outdoor Grill Fires Actually Start

Grill fires rarely begin the way people think. It's not always grease buildup or a dramatic gas leak. In multifamily settings, the smallest mistakes escalate fast.

According to the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), more than half of grill fires start because something flammable was too close to the grill.

Other leading causes include:

• Unattended cooking

• Falling embers

• Improperly stored fuel

• Gas hoses in poor condition

A single spark drifting off a balcony can ignite a wood façade hours later. That delayed ignition is what makes investigations so challenging and why codes take such a conservative approach.

Common Fire Code Violations Involving Grills

These violations aren’t minor. They are exactly the conditions fire investigators find after structure fires in multifamily buildings.

Why Property Managers Must Be Extremely Proactive

If you oversee a multifamily property in NYC or any dense city, you need to treat grill management as a critical safety issue. Enforcement is not just about checking balconies. It’s about preventing catastrophic outcomes.

Consider this: grills contribute to an estimated 4,200 structure fires annually (USFA). Those fires disproportionately affect multifamily buildings because stacked living means stacked risk.

Your responsibilities include:

• Educating tenants

• Ensuring lease agreements include grill restrictions

• Removing prohibited fuel sources

• Establishing designated community grilling zones

• Documenting inspections

Some fire departments don’t proactively inspect every balcony. They respond after the fire starts. That’s not when you want violations discovered.

Being proactive is the difference between a close call and a building evacuation with long-lasting consequences.

The Real Reason Codes Restrict Grills

Open flame cooking feels harmless. It’s part of summer, part of tradition, part of how communities gather.

But fire code writers don’t think about tradition. They think about data. They look at how fires begin, how fast they spread, and how many lives are threatened.

When the NFPA reports that gas grills are involved in 64% of home grill fires, it's not a suggestion. It’s a warning.

When code officials restrict propane storage, limit grill types, and ban balcony use, it’s not overreach. It’s an experience.

Fire codes are built on the stories no one wants to relive.

How to Stay Compliant if You Manage or Develop Multifamily Properties

If you manage residential buildings in a dense city like NYC, fire code compliance is not optional. It is a legal obligation and a major liability shield. The challenge is that residents often treat grills as harmless accessories instead of potential ignition sources.

This is where your policies matter. You need clear guidelines, strong communication, and consistent enforcement. When codes state that grilling on balconies is prohibited for all but small electric tabletop grills under 200 square inches, you need to translate that into everyday rules your tenants will actually follow.

The safest path is simple. 

If it involves an open flame, it does not belong on a balcony.

Building a Clear Grill Policy for Your Property

Most fires that begin on balconies start because someone thought they could “bend the rules just once.” To prevent this, your policies need to be both precise and easy to follow. Consider structuring yours around:

1. What residents may use

This usually includes:

• Approved electric tabletop grills

• Designated community grills on the ground level

• Small appliances within code limits

2. What residents may not use

This includes:

• Propane grills

• Charcoal grills

• Gas-powered burners

• Any open flame device

3. Storage rules

Fire codes strictly limit fuel storage. According to the NFPA, propane cylinders cannot be stored inside residential units or above the first floor, except for extremely small one-pound tanks within the allowed aggregate limit. These numbers matter because they determine the difference between safe usage and a significant violation.

4. Distance requirements

No grill should be within 10 feet of a building unless part of a designated, code-compliant installation. That distance exists because heat can radiate far faster than people realize and because siding, decking, and balcony materials ignite more easily than expected.

5. Enforcement process

You must also document how you will handle violations. Fire authorities typically issue violations to the property owner, not the tenant. That means the liability sits with you unless your lease agreements and communication methods are airtight.

Steps to Create a Fire Code-Compliant Outdoor Cooking Plan

A structured plan cuts confusion and helps you stay ahead of compliance issues.

Frequently Asked Questions About Outdoor Grill Fire Codes

Can I use a charcoal grill on a balcony in a multifamily building?

No. Fire codes prohibit charcoal grills on combustible balconies or within 10 feet of a structure unless the building meets very specific sprinkler system requirements. In most jurisdictions, these exceptions are not applied.

Are electric grills allowed on balconies?

Yes, but only if the grill is a small electric tabletop model within size limits and the building does not have additional restrictions. Many property managers choose to restrict all grilling on balconies for safety.

Does NYC allow propane grills on balconies?

No. Propane grills and propane storage above the first floor are broadly prohibited because propane tanks pose an explosion risk in enclosed or elevated areas.

How far should a grill be from a building?

At least 10 feet. Both the NFPA and IFC enforce a minimum ten-foot clearance for any open flame cooking device near combustible construction.

Can a property manager be fined for a tenant’s grill?

Yes. Enforcement commonly targets the owner or management company, not the individual tenant.

Final Thoughts: Safer Buildings Start With Clear Rules

Fire codes aren’t written to make grilling less fun. They are written because even a ten-minute cookout can become a building-wide emergency if one thing goes wrong. When 64% of grill fires involve gas grills, and nearly half occur on balconies or porches, the data tells the story clearly.

Your responsibility is to create an environment where residents understand the risks and follow the rules. Clear policies prevent confusion. Education prevents accidents. Compliance prevents tragedy.

And if you want support interpreting fire code language or need help preventing compliance issues across your buildings, MMCC is here to guide you.

Reach out to MMCC today!