Yes, if the grill is built for natural gas. A natural gas line to a grill is new gas piping, so in Phoenix it needs a permit, a city inspection, and a pressure test. The line ends in an outdoor shutoff valve and a quick disconnect. A propane grill cannot simply be hooked to natural gas.
Can I hook my propane grill up to natural gas?
No, not by just swapping the hose. Propane and natural gas are different fuels, and a grill's valves, burners, and gas train are built and listed for the one on its rating plate. The fuel gas code requires permanently installed cooking appliances, including grills and barbecues, to be listed and installed to the manufacturer's instructions. Our page on natural gas vs propane at home covers how the two gases differ.
Whether a grill can be converted at all is the manufacturer's call. Weber's owner's manual is blunt about it: "Liquid propane gas is not natural gas. The conversion or attempted use of natural gas in a liquid propane unit or liquid propane gas in a natural gas unit is dangerous and will void your warranty."
So before you pay for a gas line, check the grill:
- Rating plate: it names the gas type the grill is built for.
- Conversion: only with the manufacturer's own kit for that exact model, if the manufacturer offers one. Aftermarket kits and drilled-out orifices are not a shortcut.
- New grill: if you are buying anyway, buy the natural gas version.
What does the code require for a grill gas line?
The code treats a grill line like any other gas piping, with a few rules written for outdoor appliances. Here are the ones that shape the job.
| Requirement | What it means for a grill line |
|---|---|
| Permit and inspection | New gas piping in Phoenix needs a city permit, city inspection, and city gas clearance |
| Burial depth | Underground gas pipe goes at least 12 inches deep. A line serving just an outdoor grill or light can be 8 inches deep, if approved and in a spot not likely to be damaged |
| Plastic pipe | Allowed outdoors underground only, with a yellow insulated copper tracer wire (18 AWG or larger) alongside |
| Steel pipe underground | Needs real corrosion protection, such as a factory coating. Zinc galvanizing alone does not count |
| Shutoff valve | Within 6 feet of the appliance, upstream of the quick disconnect or connector |
| Hose connection | A listed outdoor gas hose connector, connected only in the outdoor area where the grill is used, at a shutoff valve, a listed quick disconnect, or a listed gas convenience outlet |
| Pressure test | The new piping is tested before it is buried or put in service |
The 8 inch rule is a real allowance, but it is not automatic. The code says it applies "provided that such installation is approved and is installed in locations not susceptible to physical damage." Under a lawn you will aerate or a planting bed you will dig, 12 inches or more is the safer depth, and the inspector has the final say.
The grill end usually looks like this: pipe comes up out of the ground or out of the house wall, a manual shutoff valve, then the quick disconnect fitting. Weber's natural gas instructions call for a manual shutoff valve "installed outdoors, immediately ahead of the quick disconnect," and describe the quick disconnect as a fitting that "automatically shuts OFF the flow of gas from the source when the barbecue is disconnected." Weber also recommends a second shutoff inside, on the branch line, where you can reach it.
How big should the gas line to a grill be?
The line is sized from the grill's BTU rating, the length of the run, and everything else already on the house gas system. A grill uses far less gas than a pool heater or a tankless water heater, so the pipe is usually modest, but the answer comes from the code's sizing tables, not a rule of thumb. The flow to plan for is the total of every appliance on that line at full fire.
Two things matter more than people expect:
- Where you tap in. Teeing off a small branch that already feeds a range or dryer can starve both. The plumber taps a section with enough capacity or runs a new branch.
- The grill's pressure. Weber designs its natural gas grills to run at 7 inches of water column, about a quarter of a psi. The plumber confirms the house system can deliver that pressure at the grill with everything else running.
If a pool heater or fire pit is in the plan, say so up front. One properly sized trench for all of them beats digging the yard three times. Our guide on what size gas line a pool heater needs shows how the big appliances change the math.
Can I install a grill gas line myself?
Installing new gas piping in Phoenix takes a permit, inspection, and city clearance, and it is work for a licensed contractor who does gas. Weber's own instructions say, "WE RECOMMEND THAT THIS INSTALLATION BE DONE BY A PROFESSIONAL." Our page on gas line permits and who can install them in Arizona covers the licensing side.
What you can safely do yourself once the line is in:
- Connect and disconnect the grill at the quick disconnect, following the grill's manual.
- Check the hose. Weber says not to route the 10 foot hose under a deck, and that "the hose must be visible." Keep it away from hot surfaces and foot traffic.
- Leak check the connection with a soap and water solution after connecting. Never use a flame. Bubbles mean a leak: shut the valve and call for service.
- Close the outdoor shutoff when the grill is stored or covered for a long stretch.
Who owns the grill line, and what about digging?
The property owner owns the grill line and is responsible for keeping it safe. Southwest Gas owns the pipe up to and including the meter. Everything after it, including lines to barbecues, pool heaters, and outdoor lights, is customer-owned piping that you are responsible for maintaining. The utility tells owners to periodically inspect those lines for leaks and corrosion.
That ownership has a practical side. Calling 811 before you dig gets utility-owned lines marked for free, but Southwest Gas warns that customer buried piping can't be located that way. So keep a record of where your grill line runs: a photo of the open trench with a tape measure, or a sketch with distances from the house. The yellow tracer wire on a plastic line helps a locator find it later. Southwest Gas also says to hand dig within 24 inches of a marked gas line.
If you ever smell gas near the grill or hear hissing, move away and call 911 and Southwest Gas at 877-860-6020 from a safe spot.
HQ Plumbing & Air installs and pressure tests natural gas lines to BBQs, fire pits, patios, and pool heaters across the Phoenix area, with the permit handled and the price up front before work starts. Free estimates, licensed and insured.
Right grill, right line, tested and inspected. Then fire it up.