If you have a balcony or patio, you might have considered adding a fire pit to your outdoor living space. As gorgeous and useful as such devices are, though, they aren’t permissible everywhere.
Country and state ordinances reign supreme. However, you also have to deal with your landlord if you rent and consider your neighbor’s comfort and safety. Here’s how to answer the “should you get a fire pit for your rental” question.
1. Is It Legal Where You Live?
Anyone can see the appeal of fire pits. Sitting around one transports to a faraway place free from cellphones and computers — even if you’re only steps from your door. However, could such devices be illegal where you live?
When considering whether you should get a fire pit for your rental, climate matters. If you call rainy Seattle home, the threat of wildfire probably doesn’t cross your mind as frequently as it does if you dwell in the Texas desert. Many high-risk states enact fire restrictions — including flames from charcoal-style grills and fire pits. Violating such ordinances can result in a costly fine.
Even if your pit itself is legal, you might be prohibited from lighting it at times. Your subdivision community may also enforce burn bans, and violating them can lead to eviction. After all, when you live in a multi-family dwelling, it isn’t only your home that can go up in flames.
2. What Fuel Can You Have?
Fire pits come in countless designs but use two forms of fuel: gas or wood. When it comes to convenience, gas takes the win. You don’t need to worry about chopping or stacking wood — press the power button, and bingo. You’ve got flames.
Some locations that prohibit wood-burning outdoor fixtures do allow gas. However, if your community lacks a natural gas line, you might have to work harder to get the look you desire. Some models can operate on propane, but then you need to find a way to hide the unsightly tank.
If you go the wood route, don’t blow over $200 on a cord if you have time and a bit of elbow grease. You can score free firewood by cleaning up after a storm or checking with construction sites — they often need to fell trees during the building process. Your local Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist is also a good place to find property owners who need excess logs hauled off their land, gratis.
3. Do You Have Enough Open Space?
Another question to consider is whether your outdoor living space is roomy enough. If you only have a tiny 3×5 balcony, unfortunately, you’re out of luck when it comes to fire pits and rentals.
Best practices demand that you leave at least 7’ of space around every edge of your pit. This placement allows ample room for furniture and foot traffic. You don’t want to create a tripping hazard, so err on the side of caution — your patio or deck should be at least 10’ by 10’.
4. How Much of a Fire Hazard Does One Present?
Local and community ordinances are no replacement for good, old-fashioned common sense. Even if your fire pit is perfectly legal and your neighborhood enacts no restrictions, you still need to exercise wise judgment on when you can use it. When dry and windy conditions arise, it’s best to postpone the lighting ceremony, as the breeze could blow sparks to surrounding bushes and structures, potentially causing a disaster.
Please remember — safety before convenience. Yes, you want to show off your outdoor living space for small, socially distant gatherings, but not at the risk of burning down your complex. If you only get an occasional breeze, moving a portable pit closer to a natural windbreak like a retaining wall can help you get it lit. It might not be the wisest choice, though.
5. Are You Creating a Problem for Neighbors?
However, if you live in a complex with homes stacked atop one another, you need to f you rent a single-family home with a big yard, you probably get few nuisance complaints in the first place. consider your neighbor’s sensitivity when it comes to firepits and rentals.
For example, if your next-door neighbor’s child has crippling asthma, lighting up a few feet away from their kiddo’s sandbox will draw their ire. The smoke can trigger severe attacks. Even healthy people might not appreciate the scent from your fumes wafting in through their open windows, making their couches smell like barbecue.
Light and noise present other problems. Even if you love nothing more than sitting up all night with your buds sipping brewskis and chatting around the flames, your neighbor who has an early shift doesn’t appreciate the chatter. If your patio faces someone’s bedroom window, the light could likewise pose sleep problems.
Should You Get a Fire Pit for Your Rental? It Depends
Should you get a fire pit for your rental? It all depends, but consider the five factors above first.
Oscar Collins is the managing editor at Modded. He writes about cars, fitness, the outdoors and more. Follow @TModded on Twitter for more articles from the Modded team.
