How far away should the barbecue be from the house? Can your neighbors complain about BBQ? How to grill safely at home? These are some of the questions that we will talk about in this article. Having a BBQ party is fun, but make sure that you are not being a nuisance to your neighbor. Place the BBQ grill at a place where it is safe and wind-free.<\/p>\n\n\n
![\"Is](\"https:\/\/housecaravan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Is-it-illegal-to-have-BBQ-smoke-leave-your-property-1.jpg\")
Is Open Fire and Barbecuing Against the Law?<\/h2>\n
You have the right to BBQ in your garden or backyard. On the other hand, if you are in doubt, you can always double-check the <\/strong>rules and regulations in your municipality<\/a>. <\/strong>There is no question of a ban when it comes to lighting fire for cooking purposes as long as it does not create a fire hazard for the environment, like having it in your garden and not in public places where this is prohibited.<\/p>\n Regardless you have a charcoal or gas grill, make sure to place it at least 10 feet away from any structures around your home. Before you start the BBQ, consider the best place to have it in your backyard or garden.<\/strong> The BBQ grill should be placed on a stable surface. You also need to determine the wind direction and make sure that the smoke will not blow towards your neighbors. Do not place the griller under the party tent and keep it away from any combustible objects to avoid the risk of fire and nuisance from smoke. It is best to place the griller under the canopy or in a shaded area where it is wind-free.<\/p>\n Checking your city code, your lease or condo association, and your HOA are some of the safety measures that you can do before having a BBQ.<\/strong> Below are safety tips to guide you through the grilling process. Make sure that you follow guidelines so that you have a fun and safe BBQ without being a nuisance to your neighbors. You can also check out this article titled, are smokeless grills healthy<\/a>? We have discussed the pros and cons that you can get from using a smokeless grill.<\/p>\n Before you start a BBQ outside your home, check the fine print of your condo and lease contract as they may contain specific barbecue restrictions that you need to follow. For instance, using propane is not allowed for those who are living in an apartment because city gas codes<\/a> state that you cannot store standard propane cylinders in the backyard, roof deck, balcony, courtyard, or roof deck. Natural gas grills are allowed, but they must be made for residential use. Furthermore, gas lines should be installed by a licensed master plumber.<\/p>\n Fire codes in most major cities require that grills should be placed at a minimum of 10 feet from anything that can catch fire which includes building walls. Most charcoal and wood-fired grilling on balconies or fire escapes are also ruled out in such codes. Take note that the city and county air pollution codes can also come into play if your BBQ emits harmful smoke and odors.<\/p>\n Another thing that you need to check before starting a BBQ is your HOA. The homeowner associations are strict when it comes to barbecue grill enforcement. For instance, wood-deck grilling is a fire hazard and affects the insurability of the community. Make sure to check your governing documents which include the rules and regulations section to determine if your association allows grilling on balconies, decks, or patios.<\/p>\n Your neighbors can complain about BBQ smoke if they deemed it a nuisance. The action taken will have to depend on where you live. This is because any laws that would apply would be local laws, HOA, or condo board rules. Things like a constant offensive smell <\/strong>could be considered a nuisance<\/a> in some states. <\/strong>To stop the activity, the person affected can bring suit for an injunction against the neighbor. Moreover, they can claim any damages caused by the nuisance.<\/p>\n WFLA News Channel 8 shared the video below on YouTube. It talks about a dispute between two neighbors over BBQ smoke. The neighbor has already complained more than 15 times and has already filed a lawsuit which states that the smoke is a hazard to her health. Check out the video below for more information.<\/p>\n\n\nHow Far Away Should the Barbecue be from the House?<\/h2>\n
How to Grill Safely at Home<\/h2>\n
Double Check Your Condo or Lease Association<\/h3>\n
Verify with Your City Code<\/h3>\n
Get in Touch with Your HOA<\/h3>\n
Can Neighbors Complain about BBQ?<\/h2>\n
\u2705 Video – Neighbor Upset about BBQ Smoke<\/h3>\n