Outdoor fun often includes cooking and grilling outside with family and friends. Citizens in Charlotte who want to share in this favorite pastime must take special precautions. Using portable grills in some instances is unsafe and against the law.

The Charlotte Fire Department offers the following tips for your safety during the outdoor cooking season. 

• Set grills on a smooth flat surface at least 10 feet away from your home, residence or all structures.
  
• Keep grills away from all combustible materials such as pine needles, grass and leaves.
  
• Never use charcoal lighter fluid on a burning fire.
  
• Leave the grill hood open until ignition occurs when lighting gas grills.
  
• Never leave a lit grill unattended and make sure charcoal ashes are out before discarding them.
  
• Keep a fire extinguisher or charged garden hose accessible.
  
• Do not deep-fry foods on combustible decks or within 10 feet of grass, shrubbery or pine straw.
  
• Always shut off valves to propane tanks when not in use.
  
• Always follow the manufacturer's recommendations for cleaning and maintenance of grills.
  
• Do not store propane for gas grills inside your residence or near furnace or water heaters.

The fire code prohibits outdoor grilling within 10 feet vertically and horizontally of combustible materials or portions of all occupancies except one and two family dwellings and townhouses.

The fire code applies to charcoal grills, propane gas grills, natural gas grills, hibachis, smokers, or any other appliance which uses an open flame to cook.

• These regulations also apply to portable electric grills if the grill contains loose heat storage material such as lava rock.
• The storage of grills with propane tanks having a water capacity greater than 2-1/2 pounds is permitted only on decks, porches and patios at ground level or those which have exterior stairs for access.
• The 10 feet of clearance also applies to combustible materials such as pine straw, pine bark, and other combustible landscaping materials.
• The regulations do not apply to fixed grills, but strict attention should be paid to the grill instructions to insure that required clearances are maintained.

Citations will be issued to violator of this regulation

For code questions concerning "Grilling and the Law" call the Fire Prevention Bureau at 704-336-2101