Are metal fire pits legal in Brooklyn backyards?

It just might be time to phone 911 about “intruders” in your neighbor’s house 🙂

BobMarvin

in Quality of Life 8 years and 4 months ago

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likemike | 13 years and 10 months ago

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http://cdn.brownstoner.com/4e137945221fa-

So I’ve been trying to find out online whether or not fire pits (like the pic attached) are legal in backyards. Are they legal but with regulations – such as limitation to firewood type and fire pit? Or are they straight out illegal?

shahnandersen

in Quality of Life 13 years and 10 months ago

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Be right back, going to make popcorn.

stevecym | 13 years and 10 months ago

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if one can classify them as a bbq, which is what I suspect the city views them as, then they are legal.  The only regulations I know about bbq’s are that they are not to be on decks and must be 10′ from the property line (which seems kind of restrictive if you are in a 20′ wide lot).

Steve

likemike | 13 years and 10 months ago

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Steve,

I’ve heard of that also. Where I live the backyard is 25′ from the building. Though I’ve found conflicting views online, some say it’s legal…some say it’s not. I figure if it barely generates much smoke/smell then it shouldn’t be a problem, the duraflame log looks like it could be a good option to use in the city.

dobalerts | 13 years and 10 months ago

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I have a neighbor has something similar to this (a little bigger) and he???s very sneaky about it, I heard he can be fined for it but I???m not sure. You can submit an inquirywith the FDNY here: http://www.nyc.gov/html/fdny/html/firecode/feedback.shtml

stevecym | 13 years and 10 months ago

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Ok, check section 307 of the fc.  open fires are prohibited.  An open fire is one that is burn in a container that is not exhausted through a flue.  so I suppose an old oil drum or something similar is an open fire.  Exceptions include BBQ grills of less than 10 sf, BUT they make it plain that that grill is to be fueled by charcoal.

also some specifics about proximity to combustible materials.

Sorry to bring the bad news; I have thought about getting one of these as well.

steve

bkmatthew | 13 years and 10 months ago

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What annoys me about this sort of thing is that the establishments that sell them (e.g. Lowes, Target, Home Depot) don’t post warnings that such items are not legal in multi-family houses in NYC, but may also be illegal in single family homes. Even a disclaimer warning you that it is your responsibility to check the fire code would cause some to stop and think. My condo board has had to tell several residents that propane cylinders are a no-no and that charcoal grills aren’t allowed on terraces. I know that enforcement has been lax, but it only takes a busy body neighbor or a cash strapped city and fines start getting handed out. If the city is fining bicyclists for leaving a bike lane to go around a parked police car, it’s bound to get around to all the illegal grills, fire pits and propane cylinders soon.

bkmatthew | 13 years and 10 months ago

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BTW http://www.nyc.gov/html/fdny/pdf/safety/fire_safety_education/2010_02/17_summer_fire_safety_english.pdf

THE USE OF PORTABLE OUTDOOR PATIO FIREPLACES, PATIO HEARTHS, FIRE PITS AND CHIMENYS ARE STRICTLY PROHIBITED AND ILLEGAL IN NEW YORK CITY. [Capitals are the FDNY’s]

marktaylor | 13 years and 4 months ago

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[url=http://www.firepitsite.com/]fire pits[/url] Fire pits, chimineas and other outdoor fireplaces are hot items — and families across Staten Island have them in their yards for aesthetic purposes and to add heat on cool days. They’re sold by major retailers such as Lowe’s and Home Depot, but the yard accessories are actually illegal to light in New York City.

http://cdn.brownstoner.com/4ef07820d7a40-processed-fire_pit_60453.jpg

irisvioletacor | 8 years and 4 months ago

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I was researching to see if these were illegal. I been doing this for 3 years in front of my house with no issues. Fire was always contained, never left unattended , and for safety reasons I always have a bucket of water close by. Now with that being said I recently encountered some “new people” that were renting a apartment while someone was away “the original renter”, I guess this is what goes on now a days when a landlord is not present. 3 women passed by into my neighbors home and only 1 smiled and 1 looked annoyed that I had a fire pit on in my gate area in the front of my home. My neighbors know me for 42 years and my family has been here for an additional 50 making us veterans in park slope Brooklyn. Now these “visitors” call the FDNY on my while I was enjoying a nice glass of wine in my gate. 3 fire trucks and a waste of tax payers money and my fire had to be put out. I was not fined but sure as heck they did not come out of their house to see what was going on, and my neighbors have never complained 1 time in the past 3 years I been doing this, I’m talking abou t my old school neighbors. I’m reading the thread and think its a shame this annoys people, especially people who are new comers in this area or just passing through. This is what us old school people do and enjoy our freedom to have a nice glass of wine and a relaxing fire pit in front of our home. Many people who pass by love the idea, I am just fortunate enough to have a nice size gate area to do such. This is America, land of the free and all you complainers need a box of play doe and a safe place to go crawl in, because this veteran will not stop doing what we been doing for 80+ years and basically that is what ever we want! So, if you want a taste of a nice enjoyable evening by a fire pit, stop by and bring a bottle of wine and a smile and don’t worry about our new comer neighbors, they will be leaving soon. Welcome to Brooklyn!