Backyard smokers are legal for cooking and are exempt from Ohio's open-burning ban when used to prepare food with clean fuel. At apartments and condos, though, the Ohio Fire Code's open-flame device rules keep charcoal and gas smokers off combustible balconies and within 10 feet of the building.
A smoker used to cook food falls under the Ohio EPA recreational/cooking-fire exemption (OAC 3745-19-03), so long as it burns clean seasoned wood, charcoal, or gas and is not used to dispose of waste. There is no county smoker ordinance. The controlling limit is the Ohio Fire Code's open-flame cooking device rule (Sec. 308.1.4): charcoal and other open-flame cookers, which include most smokers, may not be used on combustible balconies or within 10 feet of combustible construction at multi-family buildings, with exceptions for small LP-gas cylinders, sprinklered balconies, and one- and two-family homes. Local fire departments enforce these provisions; keep smokers clear of structures and attended.
Operating a smoker on an apartment balcony or too close to a multi-family building violates Ohio Fire Code 308.1.4 and can bring a local fire-code citation and misdemeanor penalty. Using a smoker to burn trash is prohibited open burning.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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