LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Louisville Metro Council could place restrictions on grilling limiting where you can cook outside. 


What You Need To Know

  • Metro Councilwoman Donna Purvis is sponsoring the ordinance that would only allow grilling in backyards and prevent grilling within 10 feet of homes

  • Rhonda Ducharme, a resident of Old Louisville, said if she needs to grill 10 feet from her home she would have to grill in her alleyway

  •  Purvis said the details of the ordiance are still being worked out

  • Once the ordiance is finished it will be taken to committee for discussion and then it will face a vote by the metro council

Rhonda Ducharme said she does not support the proposal. She said grilling is supposed to be a fun time with family.

“It’s one of the joys of home ownership is being able to entertain, grill, you know, do whatever it is, whatever it is you want to do in the privacy of your own backyard,” said Ducharme, a resident of Old Louisville. 

Metro Councilwoman Donna Purvis is sponsoring the ordinance. She said she is still working on its language, but her initial proposal would only allow grilling in backyards and prohibit grilling within 10 feet of homes and property lines.

“Ten feet for me would be in the alleyway. You know, where I parked my car,” said Ducharme. 

The Old Louisville resident said there are bigger problems in the community than this.

“This is just this is such a stretch. And as I said in light of everything else that city of Louisville is facing, this is not you know, it’s kind of tone deaf. It’s kind of tone deaf to what’s going on. There are more pressing issues,” said Ducharme. 

Purvis said she wants to prevent people from inhaling smoke, bumping into the hot surfaces, and setting homes on fire.

“This is all about safety. There is nothing wrong, I don’t oppose any use of an outside cooking appliance in the back of the home where you have limit access to the public,” said Purvis.

Ducharme said she is hoping that the Louisville Metro Council does not pass this ordinance. 

“I’m not going to be focused on my neighbors grilling in the backyard. I’m not going to contact my councilperson regarding that unless to say I hope to heck you’re not going to be voting for this,” she said.

Purvis said she fears that someone might get hurt if safety regulations aren’t put in place.

Purvis said she is still working on the ordinance with the help of the fire department and code enforcement. Once the ordinance is finished, it will be taken to committee for discussion and then it will face a vote by the Metro Council. 

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