Nothing beats grilling food on the BBQ grill during the summer months. However, some apartments and HOA’s have rules prohibiting use of any open fire.
So does it mean a grill is considered an open fire?
Well, it turns out the answer to this question depends on the fuel type of the grill and how the grill works.
Generally, propane grills are considered open fire grills since the flames themselves are what cook the food. Electric, charcoal, and pellet grills may not be considered open fire grills since indirect heat from electric coils, smoldering charcoal or wood pellets are what cooks the food on these grills.
Depending on the specific rules of your apartment or HOA, they may decide that a certain type of grill is considered open flame.
However, let’s cover what is generally considered an open fire grill. We’ll also cover which types of grills are and are not considered open fire.
What Is Considered An Open Fire?
According to the dictionary, an open fire is “a large uncontrolled blaze.”
Most grills do not fit that definition since most fires are contained within the grill to cook the food. However, an uncontrolled blaze is usually not what apartments and HOA’s are referring to when they prohibit open fires.
Generally, rules prohibiting open fires or flames are referring to this definition:
Open Flame – Any device that temporarily emits a flame that is directly exposed to outside elements. Some examples would include candles, kerosene lamps, campfires, burn barrels, and oil lamps.
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In effect, open fires or flames are referring to any devices that emits a flame.
So any grill that uses a flame to directly cook the food can be considered an open fire.
Now lets cover each of type of grill and whether or not the grill would be considered an open fire.
Are Pellet Grills And Smokers Considered Open Flame?
Pellet grills and smokers are tricky since some apartments and HOA’s may consider these grills open flame while others may not.
Pellet grills work by using a controlled fire within the firepot to burn the wood pellets to create both heat and smoke. However, some pellet grills have a sear feature that reveals the firepot to allow the food to get a sear directly over the flame.
So pellet grills might be considered open fire but are generally not considered open fire since the food is cook indirectly by the heat and smoke.
Read this first if you do plan on using a pellet grill in an apartment.
Are Charcoal Grills Considered Open Flame?
Charcoal grills are not considered open flame since the food cooks over the smoldering coals.
Although charcoal briquettes may need an open fire to ignite the coals, once the coals are heated and turn white/grey, a charcoal grill is not considered open fire.
So similar to pellet grills, charcoal grills may be considered open flame by some apartments and HOA’s so check the rules and regulations first before igniting your charcoal grill.
Keep in mind, there are ways to ignite charcoal without using an open fire.
For example, electric fire starters can be used to ignite the charcoal. Electric fire starters are available on Amazon and can ignite charcoals within 1 minute.
So make sure to avoid using an open flame when igniting a charcoal grill if your apartment or HOA prohibits open flames.
Are Gas Grills Considered Open Flame?
Gas grills are definitively an open fire grill since gas grills rely on an open flame to directly cook the food. The visible flame on a gas grill is easily controllable using the temperature dials.
However, most apartments and HOA’s will considered a gas grill as open fire.
So many rules and regulations will prohibit the gas grill from being used within 10 feet of the building.
Generally, apartments that provide gas grills will place the grills in a grilling area or by the pool which are usually at least 10 feet away from the nearest building.
So before you fire up your propane grill on your apartment balcony, check the rules and regulations so you can avoid any fines.
Are Electric Grills Considered Open Flame?
Electric grills are not considered open fire grills since electric grills use heating coils in order to create heat.
Similar to a pellet grill or an air fryer, electric grills use both a heating coil and a fan to cook food using indirect heat. However, unlike a pellet grill, most electric grills do not produce smoke when cooking the food.
So electric grills do not use an open flame or fire and are compliant with most apartment and HOA’s rules and regulations.
In fact, some electric grills are safe to use indoors. However, check with the electric grill’s instructions to ensure that your electric grill is safe for indoor use.
Tips For Safely Using Grills
Whether you’re cooking hot dogs and hamburgers or ribs and chicken, there’s nothing quite like the taste of grilled food.
However, grilling can also be dangerous. Different types of grills require different safety precautions.
However, here are some general safety tips that will help with grilling.
1. Use Grills Outside
Most grills will produce a large amount of heat and smoke.
The smoke can contain contaminants and carbon monoxide which can be harmful over time.
So generally grills should be used outside where there is good airflow to blow away the smoke.
All propane and charcoal grills are designed for outdoor use with plenty of ventilation.
Make sure there’s plenty of space between the grill and any nearby combustible objects such as plants, fences, and buildings.
2. Place Grill Away From Home
When using a BBQ grill, place the grill away from the home so that the grill is not a fire hazard to your home.
The best place to put your barbecue grill is in an open area outside in the yard or on your deck.
Do not place the grill near any windows or wood structures since these wood structures can get too hot while cooking. However, there are ways to safely use a BBQ grill on a wooden deck or gazebo.
Regardless of where you decide to place the grill, try to keep the grill at least 10 feet away from your home.
3. Check For Gas Leaks
When using a propane grill, periodically check for gas leaks.
See this article for safety and cleaning tips with propane grills.
Never use a propane grill if the propane tank is leaking or appears damaged. Propane is a pressurized gas which can lead to serious issues if the propane tank is faulty.
4. Do Not Leave Grill Unattended
Never leave a grill unattended for any period of time especially grills with open flames.
Open flames from a grill can quickly spread to nearby objects or structures so always keep an eye on the grill.
Final Thoughts
When determining whether or not a grill is considered open flame, make sure to check-in with your apartment, HOA, or local regulations to ensure that your grill is not an open fire grill.
Generally, propane grills are considered open flame grills. Whereas, electric, pellet, and charcoal grills are not considered open flame grills.
Ultimately, your local regulations will determine how they classify certain grills.
Regardless of whether or not a grill is considered open fire, make sure to take all the necessary safety precautions to ensure that the grill is being used safely.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you stop a grill fire?
If you see smoke emitting out of your grill, turn off all four burners immediately. If it’s possible to reach the knobs safely (on a gas unit), shut down additional fuel sources by turning them back until there is no longer any visible flame or burning smell present. You may also use a fire extinguisher if required or call for help right away.
How common are grill explosions?
Every year, about 600 propane tanks blow up as per the Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates. And every time is different because of circumstances. So you can’t predict it without examining what happened in that particular incident!
Can I place a grill on my apartment patio?
The risk of fire breakout is too high to allow open-flame cooking devices on decks, patios, or within 10 feet of structures. The one exception for this rule is apartments that have automatic sprinkler systems installed just below the patio.
