I got shut down - no more outdoor brewing
 

I got a call from my homeowners association this weekend. In the message the woman says somethign to the afftect of "some people have noticed you brewing... something in the garage. Whatever it is, I think it's probably against fire safety laws and we'd like you to stop."
I called up my local fire dept this morning to get some info, and, indeed, an open flame within 10 feet of a structure is not allowed in a townhome setting like ours. He didn't say it was illegal, but if an inspector saw it they would make me stop.
I do not have a private yard large enough that would keep me 10 ft from a wall or fence, which means I'm moving operations indoors. Which means 2.5-3 gal batches since our stove sucks. Which means my banjo cooker and 20 gallon Blichmann are essencially useless to me until we move. This f'n BLOWS!

Land of the Free. Forget them and keep brewing. Do it in the parking lot. Is it in your HOA by Laws?

Is there a parking lot, or a common area? I'll make a bet that if you were to share some of your brew with others involved at the townhouse, they'd give their blessing to brewing somewhere else on the property.

I know this would limit you to days when it's pretty nice outside, but what about your driveway?

Two options,
1) Tell your HO rep that you spoke with the fire department and he mentioned nothing about it be illegal, Then continue brewing until an inspector tells you to stop unless of course that would be associated with a fine.
2) Electric brewing. Sell the blichman bling and buy the ugliest equipment you can make work into electric and brew outside with it playing Bluegrass with your shirt off.

Do they allow people in the community to use Propane grills?

Someone would have to explain to me why a propane buner was more safe attached to an outdoor grill - than to a brewing kettle...... although I can understand they don't want anyone using propane indoors.

May look at going all electric.

Most townhouses (That I've seen) have parking lots, not driveways.

Driveway/parking lot is a pretty narrow area that would piss a lot of people off if I were to set up there. They got pissy when we had a garage sale that spilled into that area. Our direct neighbors, the ones we share walls with, don't care. They find it pretty cool, and know another homebrewer in MN. I think the association just doesn't like us very much. They've been giving us a hard time over our dog lately because he has separation anxiety and has a bad day once in a while. At least he doesn't run off leash like some other people's dogs. Grr.