Grills Placement Restrictions: Safety and Liability

Started by PatriciaZ1 • 6 replies • 262 views

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PatriciaZ1 (Pennsylvania)
Posts: 1

Posted:

Our HOA rules include that grills may be kept on HOA approved patios only They are not permitted to be kept in the grass or on pad/ pavers in the grass. They should, otherwise, be stored in a garage or the patio. When grill is in use it should be kept a safe distance from siding, mulch, and any flammable materials.

Members have raised issues in that patios are mostly very small and covered, which does not allow them to meet safety recommendations for placement on patios (10 feet from structures). Additionally, since pavers are not permitted as a placement solution, and mulch placement is unsafe, it leaves them few options. Has any other association a similar rule and how do they deal with safety concerns as well as practicality.

KellyM3 (North Carolina)
Posts: 2,239

Posted:

My impression is that your dues payers are correctly pointing out a major safety flaw in your covenants. You do not want them storing gas grills in garages, not to mention charcoal grills. If grills are allowed (and should be to a regulated degree), the HOA should desire they be kept on pavers away from the building structure.

Unless a discussion is over you banning grills, there should be no controversy here.

SheliaH (Indiana)
Posts: 6,964

Posted:

What Kelly said.

You should also check with the fire marshal's office with its suggestions and any regulations. Unfortunately, this neighborhood may have been designed in a way that doesn't allow for the large gas or charcoal grills people are used to. There are electric grills that might be useful, but homeowners will still need to take precautions like not leaving the grills unattended, using GFCI outlets and having fire extinguishers that can put out electrical fires.

If it is not right do not do it; if it is not true do not say it. Marcus Aurelius

DeanJ
Posts: 1,786

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By PatriciaZ1 on 12/18/2025 10:58 AM
Our HOA rules include that grills may be kept on HOA approved patios only They are not permitted to be kept in the grass or on pad/ pavers in the grass. They should, otherwise, be stored in a garage or the patio. When grill is in use it should be kept a safe distance from siding, mulch, and any flammable materials.

Members have raised issues in that patios are mostly very small and covered, which does not allow them to meet safety recommendations for placement on patios (10 feet from structures). Additionally, since pavers are not permitted as a placement solution, and mulch placement is unsafe, it leaves them few options. Has any other association a similar rule and how do they deal with safety concerns as well as practicality.

Without knowing the fire code in your jurisdiction, in multi family units many jurisdictions prohibit the use of gas and charcoal grills on patios and balconies. I believe the regulation allows for electric grills.

In an area condo, their rules prohibit the use and storage on balconies, the ground floor does not have patios, and grills are required to be kept and used in designated areas at least 10 ft from the buildings. . It looks like crap.

I believe a solution might be be a grill owned and maintained by the HOA on a pad for each building.

JamesV3 (New Hampshire)
Posts: 50

Posted:

Our Community has a designated Grilling area well away from the buildings. We have 2 grills for owners to use they are permanent structures.
Owners may use their own grills but must comply with strict rules and regulations.

Our city codes mandate at least 15 feet away from building. We exceed that for extra safety.
No balcony grilling is allowed including electric grills.

The storage of gas cylinders are prohibited on owners balconies, in unit, storage rooms and any common area or limited common area. Per our rules and regulations.
We do fine very hard for any violation.

DeanJ
Posts: 1,786

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By JamesV3 on 12/27/2025 6:16 AM
Our Community has a designated Grilling area well away from the buildings. We have 2 grills for owners to use they are permanent structures.
Owners may use their own grills but must comply with strict rules and regulations.

Our city codes mandate at least 15 feet away from building. We exceed that for extra safety.
No balcony grilling is allowed including electric grills.

The storage of gas cylinders are prohibited on owners balconies, in unit, storage rooms and any common area or limited common area. Per our rules and regulations.
We do fine very hard for any violation.

James, I believe your situation represents current fire regulations as a national standard. I am curious if you are owners to store propane cylinders within their units. (Not common or limited common areas).

BryonW (Massachusetts)
Posts: 55

Posted:

I also think that the rules laid out by JamesV3 sound good.

PatriciaZ1 - I would suggest that you organize an effort to amend your condo's rules more in line with what James laid out!

My comment on electric grills: they are not much safer than propane or charcoal. You still have the fat/oil that drips off the meat and collects in some kind of can at the bottom of the grill. When the fat catches on fire, it is a major way that fires spread beyond the grill, and catch other stuff on fire. (fences, buildings, etc). Grease is hard to extinguish once it is burning!

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