Backyard smokers are treated as open-flame cooking devices under the North Carolina Fire Code. At single-family and two-family homes they are unrestricted; at apartments and condos they cannot be used on combustible balconies or within 10 feet of the building unless it is sprinklered.
The North Carolina Fire Code defines smokers among charcoal burners and open-flame cooking devices. Under Section 308.1.4, such devices shall not be operated on combustible balconies or within 10 feet of combustible construction, with an exception for one- and two-family dwellings and townhouses, so home smoking is unrestricted by distance. Multi-family residents may not use a smoker on a wooden balcony or close to the building unless the building has an approved sprinkler system. Smoke from a backyard smoker must not become a recurring nuisance to neighbors; excessive, persistent smoke can trigger county nuisance enforcement. Never operate a smoker indoors or in an enclosed garage due to carbon monoxide risk.
Using a smoker on a combustible multi-family balcony or within 10 feet of the structure violates the fire code. Persistent nuisance smoke may draw county code enforcement; single-family homes are exempt from the distance rule.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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