Electric BBQ grills on condo porches

Does any one know what the restrictions are on having a an electric BBQ grill on your condo porch or balcony? I know gas grills are not allowed, but electric? Not sure what the FL statues say about this, but will try to research. However, I thought may be one of y'all have already researched that topic. Thanks. Tom in Panama City Beach, FL

Can't say about FL, and gas also not allowed in CA condo balconies. In CA, electric grills are allowed on our high rise balconies.

PitA's right. Check with your local fire marshall. He's the one who prohibited gas here a couple of years ago, and I think he was following CA statutes.

PitA's also right about grease fires. Suddenly we've had 2 in the past few weeks with no damage to our concrete and steel construction. But...still... Our Board just learned of these and our PM is checking into what we might do to prevent, or should we ban, now, electric grills?

Good points, Sheila. I'm thinking that unless the condos are very old, they have covered outlets on their balconies. And in our HOA, nothing that penetrates the walls of these areas would be permitted by our Arch. Control Committee.

And it is the case that any damage their grill causes would be the unit owners' responsibility.

Best answer.

It may have the same zing, but I also use a stovetop smoker (about the size of a large dutch oven) if it's too cold or wet (or both!) and I have a hankering for BBQ (although I have pushed aside the snow, brought out the grill and kept it moving!)

Since these grills CAN be used on porches (not balconies), I would still suggest that the board establish some ground rules like the ones I mentioned above, adding rules requiring grills be set up several feet away from the building and not leaving it unattended under any circumstances. I suspect electric grills were nixed for the same reasons as gas grills - people tend to forget the stuff is outside cooking, use the wrong thing to put out any fires, ran extension cords everywhere, etc.