Gas and charcoal grills are freely allowed at single-family homes in Durham. In apartments and condos, the NC Fire Code bans operating charcoal or LP-gas grills on combustible balconies or within 10 feet of the building, unless it is sprinklered or uses a tiny 1-lb cylinder.
NC Fire Code Section 308 states that charcoal burners and other open-flame cooking devices shall not be operated on combustible balconies or within 10 feet of combustible construction. One- and two-family dwellings are exempt, so backyard grilling at a house is unrestricted - just keep it a safe distance from siding, eaves, and fences. In multifamily buildings the rule applies unless the balcony or deck is sprinklered or the device uses an LP container of 2.5 pounds water capacity or less. This effectively bans standard 20-lb propane grills on apartment balconies. Nuisance smoke drifting to neighbors can also draw a county complaint.
Fire marshals may order grills removed from prohibited balconies; violations are correctable fire-code offenses subject to fines.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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See how Durham County's bbq & propane rules rules stack up against other locations.
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