Charcoal grilling on a Boston rooftop--legal?

March 27, 2009 11:07 AM

Is it legal to use a charcoal grill on a downtown Boston rooftop?

We're thinking of doing some early spring bbqinq tomorrow afternoon on our North End Roof. However, our roof is not a finished roof-deck. Does anyone know if this is legal in the city of Boston? We live right next to the Fire Station, so chances of getting scolded are high. Any insight is appreciated.

posted by mgerstenblatt to law & government (9 comments total)

If you live right next to a fire station, why don't you pop in and ask them? Firemen aren't scary-- they're there to help.
posted by dersins at 11:09 AM on March 27 [3 favorites has favorites]

Charcoal Grills
Under the authority of Article 1, section 1.05(b), the Boston Fire Department prohibits the use of portable charcoal cooking grilles on or within a building or structure for the following reasons:

* Improper use of starter fuel resulting in burn.
* Numerous fire safety complaints to the Boston Fire Department by persons within or near the building.
* Wind velocity affecting open flame.
* Fire hazard conditions high or extreme.
* Resultant Fire Department response due to persons observing assumed building fire from a distance and/or reports of smoke odor from an assumed building fire in the area.
* Lack of attendance resulting in unwarranted smoke pollution. Danger of explosive gas build up
posted by yeti at 11:16 AM on March 27

Yeah, definitely not. The landlord of my previous apartment threatened to evict anyone who got caught doing that. Is it one of those Weber flying saucer types? Why not roll it down to a park?
posted by backseatpilot at 11:24 AM on March 27

If not on the roof, consider BBQ on the front sidewalk. Walking through the North End two weekends ago, I saw a number of sidewalk BBQ's going on. If you don't have a stoop, get some lawn chairs.
posted by ericb at 11:36 AM on March 27

Firemen aren't scary-- they're there to help.

Yeah, this. You don't have to be all, "we're planning a bbq!" but walk by, and pop in (or better yet, maybe someone will be hanging out outside) say, "hey, I was wondering...is it legal to have a grill on the roof?"

But, even before reading yeti's comment, I was about 99% sure it wasn't. Where I am, you can't bbq within 10 feet of a building (for good reason - embers and smoke and whatnot (I've been the victim of a downstairs neighbors FIRE ESCAPE grill. the fumes made me dizzy, I had to go downstairs and be all, "dudes, smells delicious but NOT cool"). Being on top of a building counts as being within 10 feet of a building.

Maybe ask the firemen (or firewomen. firepeeps!) if sidewalk bbqing is legal.
posted by AlisonM at 12:10 PM on March 27

Ahahaha evicting someone in boston for using a grill on a rooftop. *dies laughing*

It's so hard to evict anyone in Boston, let alone for grilling on the roof, i'm actually laughing at my computer here.

I've used grills in boston, allston and brookline on patio's and roof's. Just look up the fine and be prepared to pay it if you get caught.
posted by zentrification at 12:33 PM on March 27

I lived in the North End and wanted to fire up a grill once. By all accounts (aside from the illegality of it) it just isn't a good idea. If a fire broke out you could easily lose a city block in a flash what with the narrow streets and such. Y

You don't want to be that guy/girl, do you? The Cheese Man and his thugs wouldn't be too happy with you . . .
posted by eggman at 1:11 PM on March 27 [1 favorite has favorites]

You might want to check your lease to see if you're allowed on the roof in the first place. I wasn't allowed on mine, and I know a lot of buildings in the area don't have "safe" roofs. Apologies if this is irrelevant.

You might get more guff from the old Italian guys sitting outside their members only clubs than the fire department.

(Fleet St. represent!)
posted by giraffe at 1:56 PM on March 27

One of my best friends, expert BBQ'er from the South who was doing the same, safe things he had done his whole life, burned down his house (correction: his landlord's house) grilling on the porch in Boston. They were lucky the whole neighborhood didn't go.

Just keep in mind that the worst part may not be the fine but, instead, learning that you have scary neighbors who keep thousands of dollars in savings in cash at home, and who are a little irked that you burned it up.
posted by range at 5:52 PM on March 27