No BBQ's in Apartments
 

I read about this law a few months ago but now it seems, at least San Diego, is enforcing it. We got an addendum to our lease yesterday. You can't have charcoal or other open-flame cooking devices within 10 feet of combustible construction in multifamily buildings. It also prohibits using gas grills (effective Feb 1) having a gas container with a water capacity greater than 2.5 pounds.

It's California Code of Regulations, Title 24, Part 9, Section 308.3.1. I'm not very good a a web search apparently because I'm not having a lot of luck finding the actual code.

This article from the Sacramento Bee sums it up.

Now it says multifamily dwellings so I'm assuming this would include condos as well? Anyone else get any kind of notice?

We haven't gotten one recently, though I remember hearing about it a few years ago when we were still living in Irvine. I don't think anyone's bothered to enforce it

I received no such notice (we live in a condo), but this law would seem like common sense. I know some people won't like it, but having seen the effects of such a situation (burned out balconies due to BBQs), I initially support the ban (and I am actually surprised it wasn't law before).

Our apartments already had banned any open flame except gas grills. I think I'm actually ok because I can use the camping size gas bottles with my road trip which are allowed, as far as I can tell.

I remember apartments forbidding it. I have heard no such thing at my condo. Hope not, because our grill is charcoal!

Our complex sent out a reminder of this several months ago. Didn't know if it was new law or just a reminder of existing law. Our complex as communal grills but it didn't impact me at all since I have never, except when camping, come close to actually using a BBQ.

In looking around I too can't find the law online (the California Building Code seems to be something you have to purchase to read in full but maybe I'm just stupid) but it looks like the exceptions are for charcoal grills only at SFRs or duplexes, or if you're patio has automatic sprinkler protection.

You can read it here. Scroll down to page 35. (I have no idea why certain words are covered in yellow.)

Basically, no BBQs on combustible balconies in buildings with 3 or more units unless said balconies are equipped with fire sprinklers. (It says nothing about patios!)

Most apartment patios probably don't provide the 10 feet of clearance required ("or within 10 feet of combustible construction") especially if a fence would count as "combustible construction."

My yard doesn't provide 10 feet of clearance.

Hi KatieSue,

Having read page 35 as provided by JW, you can put an LPG-fuelled BBQ hard-up against a dry brush fence as long as the bottle doesn't exceed a 1 pound gas capacity.

Just why a 1 pound bottle is less of a risk than a 1.001 pound bottle, and why it's OK to (potentially) burn down a 1 or 2 family dwelling (as opposed to a 3 family dwelling) with it is anyone's guess. It always amuses me that the more detail that is put into this kind of document, the more loopholes are accidentally included...so I guess you could use a 50 pound butane bottle without issue, as butane isn't mentioned.

Glancing over other parts of the document, it appears that you Americans can thank the Darwin Award nominees that put whole frozen turkeys into boiling oil and recreate the Pompeii eruption (as can be seen in many a YouTube clip).

Anyways, as my cheesy footer says, it's all for the grater good.

Love and hugs,

The Stoat XXX.