I got shut down - no more outdoor brewing

[Kronin]

I'm confused. Does this mean that you can't use the gas stove top in your kitchen? It's not like you're welding or burning your garbage. I'd look into the exact wording of the ordinance.

very good point, and also the comment about gas BBQ's... there is likely some wording that describes the size of the tank, or flame.... you maybe find you are in luck

 

[jacksonbrown]

Googlefoo yeilds madison fire code RE: open flame In short, no open flame - including propane or charcoal bbq's within 10 ft of combustible materials, excepting single family dwelings.

Bingo. That's exactly what the fire inspector told me. I contacted my HOA and they said, "oh, it's just beer." What the hell did you think it was, woman?!
But I did ask her about grills, and she is aware. She said they put a notice in the monthly bulletin in the warm months reminding people not to use their grills within 10' of a wall. Not to say I don't see people using their grills in our tiny yards, but certainly no one would complain about that.
I guess this just means more small batches and more experimentation.

 

[jacksonbrown]

I'm pretty sure gas stoves are not allowed. Probably for the same reason. Before we bought the place (which was before I started brewing, too), we had looked at 3 units, they all had electric burners.

 

[olllllo]

Well, if you really are Jackson Browne, put on a benefit concert!

People brew just a little bit longer
We want to brew -- just a little bit longer
Now the owners don't mind
And the neighbors don't mind
If we take a little time
And we leave it all behind and brew
One more beer
Oh won’t you brew just a little bit longer
Please, please, please say you will
Say you will

 

[mr_clean]

I hate the HOA

 

[jgln]

Bingo. That's exactly what the fire inspector told me. I contacted my HOA and they said, "oh, it's just beer." What the hell did you think it was, woman?!
But I did ask her about grills, and she is aware. She said they put a notice in the monthly bulletin in the warm months reminding people not to use their grills within 10' of a wall. Not to say I don't see people using their grills in our tiny yards, but certainly no one would complain about that.
I guess this just means more small batches and more experimentation.

A ceiling is like a wall and hard to keep the flame 10' of that which is why you can't by those guidlines use it in your garage.

 

[john from dc]

i've dealt with several homeowner's associations before, and i can pretty much guarantee that the real problem for them is not the fire code or the legality of homebrewing. they see you doing something in public that they don't understand and therefore label it as a blight that's bringing their property values down. if you respond to them with "well the fire department said it's ok" then they're going to feel that their authority is being challenged and make your life very difficult.

i think the best course of action is to first do your homework. assemble whatever materials you can get: fire codes, laws about the legality of homebrewing, hard and digital copies of the bylaws, etc. read them and come up with answers to the questions you think they might ask. also think about concessions you can make to appease their concerns, like brewing in another (out of sight) area or making your rig more fire safe (not to say that it's not already).

then i'd schedule a time to come to an HOA meeting and explain to them what you do and why you do it there. don't get defensive or bring up fire codes or bylaws or any of that, just be prepared in case they ask you about it. tell them that you're also very concerned about safety and want to come to a mutually agreeable agreement that allows you to continue brewing outside.

as a group HOAs are usually catty vindictive organizations but they often have at least a few reasonable decent people who you can convince. i think if you come off as a nice person with a misunderstood hobby, it's your best bet at getting some leeway.

if that doesn't work, it's probably time to lawyer up (if it's worth it to you, of course). but at least you'll have done all you can to prevent it from getting that far.

edit: or you can just ignore them and wait til the fire marshall or police show up. but i'm guessing that won't be very long.

 

[user 30639]

It's easier to ask forgiveness than permission. Just a thought...

 

[Denny's Evil Concoctions]

Time it rent a garage somewhere.

That really blows. I hate modern living. Rules up the ass and building so close together you can shake hands with your neighbor through the window while taking a **** on the toilet.

Usually these associations are headed up by a group of people that think they are the congress of the USA. Power mad I tell Yuh!

Well, you needed something brewing wise to spend your moeny time on (in between looking for a new house). Might as well be the electric brew rig.

If you want to get even, sit on a lawnchair in front of your unit looking like my avatar.

 

[llazy_llama]

Freaking Stepford neighborhoods... Where I live, I can do whatever the hell I please, and as long as it isn't in writing somewhere that I can't do it, I'm free.

Then again, I live on a military base, or as I like to call it, a small gated community with armed guards.

 

[olllllo]

I would also suggest you try and meet some brewers in you area and see if a brewout at one of their homes or even at a park. Here in AZ you can rent a ramada with electrical and water. You need a beer permit, only if you are drinking.

 

[Denny's Evil Concoctions]

Then again, I live on a military base, or as I like to call it, a small gated community with armed guards.

To keep people out or IN?

 

[ewbish]

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!

Screw 'em. Tell 'em you're Wiccan, and threaten a law suit against the HMA for religious discrimination.

 

[jgln]

Time it rent a garage somewhere.

That really blows. I hate modern living. Rules up the ass and building so close together you can shake hands with your neighbor through the window while taking a **** on the toilet.

Usually these associations are headed up by a group of people that think they are the congress of the USA. Power mad I tell Yuh!

Well, you needed something brewing wise to spend your moeny time on (in between looking for a new house). Might as well be the electric brew rig.

If you want to get even, sit on a lawnchair in front of your unit looking like my avatar.

My association stopped that activity years ago. 10.11.224a :No angry clowns sitting on front lawns.

 

[SumnerH]

Bingo. That's exactly what the fire inspector told me. I contacted my HOA and they said, "oh, it's just beer." What the hell did you think it was, woman?!

They didn't know. They assumed it's something illegal (likely meth). They sent the note phrasing it as a "fire hazard" issue to avoid confronting a "potentially dangerous drug dealer" about his illegal activity. The whole note reads like a "wink, wink" sort of "we know you're doing something illegal, we'll pretend it's a fire hazard thing to get you to knock it off without bringing the cops into our neighborhood but if you don't comply we'll have to get them involved".

I wouldn't be too surprised if the issue basically disappears now that whatever busybody was imagining a drug lord taking over the neighborhood has an idea what's really going on. This is why I was saying to go talk to them in a friendly, non-confrontational matter--a lot of the time it's that they're clueless and going down there to talk politely can turn that into "oh, now that we see what's going on that's fine" while going down there angry would make them defensive and inclined to stand their ground for no real reason.

OTOH, whoever reported it could just dislike your "uglification" of the neighborhood by brewing, so there still might be an issue.

 

[RC0032]

Whats the cost of the fine?

 

[FireBrewer]

Bingo. That's exactly what the fire inspector told me. I contacted my HOA and they said, "oh, it's just beer." What the hell did you think it was, woman?!
But I did ask her about grills, and she is aware. She said they put a notice in the monthly bulletin in the warm months reminding people not to use their grills within 10' of a wall. Not to say I don't see people using their grills in our tiny yards, but certainly no one would complain about that.
I guess this just means more small batches and more experimentation.

Local codes regarding open flames within close proximity to townhouses/apartment buildings make sense...but it still sucks and you can bet they're not leaning as hard on their friends who are grilling right next to their house.

I hate HOAs. Full of self-righteous control freaks. Time to go electric...and then time to make their life hell---let a batch of grain spoil for a week then put it in a bag on their lawn for trash day. They garbage guy will be pretty pissed at them.

 

[mmb]

Screw 'em. Tell 'em you're Wiccan, and threaten a law suit against the HMA for religious discrimination.

This is the correct answer.

 

[SOB]

I still dont see what's wrong with simply closing the garage door?! Dont forget some ventilation. Out of site, out of mind...

 

[snailsongs]

Just one more reason never to move into a place with an overarching community "association" policing, monitoring and attempting to control it's residents. ridiculuous why people want to live in places like that.....

 

[Gussymo]

Come on up to Harmony Grove/Lodi and you can brew in my driveway. There is no stinking Homeowners Ass. here.

 

[Schlenkerla]

You should stand out there someday, with your gear all set-up, drinking a beer and never light your burner and see how long before the cops & FD take to show up.

You might buy a block of dry ice and put water in the kettle so it looks as if its steaming.

How the hell will they know if you lit the sucker if the flame is covered?

I imagine they will whig-out even if its all electric.

Really try setting it up and do nothing but sit by it drinking a beer.

Keep doing it if they say nothing, maybe sooner or later you can fire it up.

Another idea, do it under the cover of darkness. Start at midnight.

 

[Boar Beer]

Just go electric
I took my SS kettle and converted it
I used a Brewmation 220 conversion. Cost a few bucks but it works great


http://brewmation.com/

 

[Donner]

Well, i don't always like rules like this, but generally, if the rules were in place before he moved in then he shouldn't complain. IF they added the rules after he moved in then i understand. Also, all the apartments i've ever lived in have had rules against grills near the building. Given some of the neighbors i've had (especially in college) i'm glad they weren't allowed to use any open flames near our common wall. Remember, rules aren't made for those who can be trusted to be careful and behave, they are made for the ones who have ruined it for the rest of us.

Yeah, it sucks, but part of homebrewing is adaptation and you'll find a way to adapt and overcome this.

 

[golfnmotorcycles]

I think the definition of "open flame" needs to be clearly defined.

In my town, open burning is not allowed. In my case, that applies to an open pile of debris (limbs, leaves, construction debris, etc), burning anything in a drum (55 gallon barrel) and such. Burning wood/sticks in a fire pit, isn't frowned upon. I'm sure if I started throwing leaves in and stinking up the place, prompting a neighbor to complain, it probably would be frowned upon.

All that said, I maintain that using a cooking device for the sake of cooking - and that is what you are doing - is NOT open burning. Just a gas grill has grates, a grill, and a lid over the fire, a propane "fish cooker" has the grill around it, and (usually) a pot over the top of it.

I'd seek clarification, probably by way of continuing to brew until someone really wanted to challenge me on it.

 

[SOB]

Just one more reason never to move into a place with an overarching community "association" policing, monitoring and attempting to control it's residents. ridiculuous why people want to live in places like that.....

I live in a "place like that" with no problem of them "attempting to control" me whatsoever! Everyone pays a $70 a year fee and the HOA keeps the common area(s) mowed and landscaped and that's it! Not all associations are bad...I think the OP just has some snooty neighbors that like to complain. When someone complains then it's up to the HOA to do something about it and enforce the rules.

 

[samc]

Life is too short to be in a pissing contest with your neighbors. Get yourself elected to the board! I did that once and my first order of business was to add motorcycle parking in the underground garage. Mission accomplished - then we sold the damn place and moved to a single family home! Suggest an outdoor barbeque/brewing area for everyone to use.

 

[jgln]

I live in a "place like that" with no problem of them "attempting to control" me whatsoever! Everyone pays a $70 a year fee and the HOA keeps the common area(s) mowed and landscaped and that's it! Not all associations are bad...I think the OP just has some snooty neighbors that like to complain. When someone complains then it's up to the HOA to do something about it and enforce the rules.

$70 a year, that is cheap. How many units in your association? I pay well over $1k a year but we are a small association of 7 units, one property/building. We maintain our own private pool though.

 

[JVD_X]

The only reason the HOA said anything is because someone complained. You will know because if you ask the HOA they have to have a provide a picture of the violation. No picture, no HOA complaint, and thus a homeowner complaint.

 

[IrregularPulse]

you can bet they're not leaning as hard on their friends who are grilling right next to their house.

I say sit out these next few weeks when people start firing up grills and take pictures, then send a COPY of each picture to the HOA and DEMAND that they either put a stop to those people immediately, Allow you to brew, or you will be suing the HOA for Discrimination. And if all go wells, you'll catch Mrs Snot-ass herself or her husband.

I still don't see what's wrong with simply closing the garage door?! Dont forget some ventilation. Out of site, out of mind...

That's still a direct violation of the same rule he's breaking. He's less likely to get caught, but you're still violating the same law while not standing up for yourself. But that's more important to some than others.