I got shut down - no more outdoor brewing

[BierMuncher]

Buy a house.

 

[Larstram]

I got fined once for a barbegue grill on my back deck of a condo in the suburbs of Atlanta. 600 bucks. I hated the fact that HOA could tell me what I could do in my own home.
+1 for buy a house with no HOA

 

[jacksonbrown]

Separation anxiety or not..barking dogs P*** me off too. You owe it to your neighbors to get that problem under control.

Don't even start with me about that. Our dog is good, and rarely has issues. But once in a while, ie a hand full of times a year, he has a bad day. It happens.

 

[jacksonbrown]

It's a town house, and we do own it. And we would loved to have been able to afford a SFH, but alas, they were out of our budget.

I was reminded today by my friend who got busted during her garage sale at our place that it was probably the same guy who narked her to the FD that narked me to the HOA. And he's mentally challenged. And he does think he's the neighborhood police. I'm not going to give him sh**.

 

[SourHopHead]

HOA Suck. Been on their hit list off and on. Latest infraction was tinfoil on the windows since I work nights. Fixed that problem over the weekend with some nice tint. They always complain about weeds and they never seem to take care of them on the roads/parks like they are supposed too. Just worked on the backyard too and people started b*tching.

 

[BlackNotch]

I can actually chime in since I am a Fire Marshal in Wilmington, DE. Is your local department paid or volunteer? Check to see who enforces the codes, sometimes it's not the local FD. All jusridictions adopt different codes, I can tell you that the State of Delaware uses the NFPA codes, and this is directly from NFPA 1 "The Unifrom Fire Code"

NFPA 1:10.11.7 For other than one- and two-family dwellings, no hibachi, gas-fired grill, charcoal grill, or other similar devices used for cooking, heating, or any other purpose, shall be used or kindled on any balcony or under any overhanging portion or within 10 ft (3 m) of any structure. Listed electric ranges, grills, or similar electrical apparatus shall be permitted.

PLEASE NOTE: Many condominiums or apartment complexes have regulations on the use of barbecue grills that exceed fire code requirements. Please check with your management staff to see what requirements or exceptions apply to use of grills at your complex.

If you notice, the first sentence states "other than 1 and 2 family dwellings" Our office generally, does not deal with homes, unless there is an actual fire or an obvious issue. Our Licensing and Inspections department handles all single family homes. Your municiaplity should have all codes available online to view.


Just one side note, if they say you can't have it, follow the rules, you don't want to get jammed up with a fine or worse, an arrest.

 

[Whisler85]

well, as much as i agree with everyone who thinks the HOA needs to eat **** and die, thats probably a losing battle- especially if this complainer is mentally challenged, ur gonna look like a really f-ing dick in the end

but dude, you live in madison- if you cant find a brew partner with a single family home or at least no HOA, i feel sorry for you

join a club, make a friend, brew together- just take your **** over there, brew, take your carboys home (or leave them there, keeps you from screwing with them)

i'd say a brew partner with a cool pad is your best bet- and double the brews

 

[Eves]

Electricity is a LOT more expensive than propane. Tell whoever is bitching to mind their own damn business. There is no difference between propane burner and a propane grill or turkey fryer. It's amazing how some feel that if someone is doing something a little out of the ordinary, they must be doing something wrong.

Tom

Is that true? I mean after the initial cost of the equipment is it really going to cost more to use electricity for a full batch of beer than propane? I suspect if a person lived in an area where electricity rates were higher than the norm then it might be possible. But if you rates aren't outragous I question how it would cost more to use electricity.


Regardless, good luck with your housing association issue.

 

[polecreek]

I would put on my best Alaskan Bush company t-shirt, a pair of holy shorts with my junk hangen on the verge of escape. Set up shop 10.5 feet from the building in the driveway. Put on some AC/DC and brew, all this starting at about 4.30 a.m. A big nasty cigar and a lawn chair would also be a nice touch.

 

[epimortum]

Is there any natural gas in your place you could have someone tap into for your?
If the guy does have some mental issues, you'd for sure look like a bit of a plonker and you can't necessarily fault the bugger if its beyond his control.

Again, best of luck.

 

[jacksonbrown]

I'm in a club, Madison Homebrewers and Tasters Guild (plug!). I just really like(d) the ease and comfort of brewing at home.

EDIT: this thread is out of control! Loving all the support though. HBT kicks a**!

 

[Schlenkerla]

I hear ya, I'd be doing stove top PMs before going to brew off premises.

 

[MikeFlynn74]

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.

what? Ive had friends who have gotten tickets because they didnt pick up the dog poop within 30 seconds of hitting the ground. Or lawn being 1/2" too long. Car parked too close to the line, this was after there was a 12" of snow on the ground

 

[beesy]

I personally believe it all boils down to this:

If we all took care of all our shXt all the time, there would never be a reason for a condo association or HOA. But we don't, so there is. It's too bad some people take it upon themselves to be little Cartman respect my authority aXXholes, but it's a given in life.

My suggestion:
1) Get a copy of your association's rule book and try to find a "suitable" solution that will still let you use your current equipment
2) Research local fire laws to see if you are breaking any
3) Once familiar with HOA rules and laws, document every time you see someone else breaking them. Of course, don't be one of those dix that reported you, but if you see it out on a walk or something, document it to. My experience tells me they make a lot of dumb axx rules to get a few people on odd things, but if they were applied to everyone all the time, (BBQ grill, etc) all would be piXXed. :rockin:

The world would be a better place if everyone would homebrew!!

 

[ceannt]

Most of what is wrong with the world today are people that are not happy unless they are telling someone else how to live thier lives....

 

[cactusgarrett]

So much for a liberal Madison, huh? Damn hippies!

 

[JPicasso]

This thread is huge. I have a different take.

While I believe HOA can be run by neighborhood nazi's, they do have their place. Especially when the action of one person can ruin the lives of those who live around them. If I was particularly shy, and thought someone was frying turkeys in a garage that could threaten my home, I might be inclined to make a call. Turkey fryers are known to be dangerous. Even if you are careful, I think you would not want your neighbor to fire up his turkey fryer in a unit that is attached to yours. I'm not saying your HOA is run by reasonable, well-minded individuals, but the open flame indoors in attached dwellings ban may have some merit. (sorry)

It sounds like the HOA were surprised and relieved that you were only boiling water, not heating up oil to near-flash temperatures, that's probably a good sign. It would probably be wise to bring this fact up if you get any more flak. It also sounds like the HOA does not actually enforce any gas grill use outside of the garages. You could probably easily get away with using your turkey fryer outside when it warms / drys up.

I would seriously look into the electric thing. You'll probably need a couple of heatsticks if you only have access to 120V, otherwise, if your stove is 240, you could make a 240V stick and just plug into your stove outlet. From what I've seen you'll need about 4000-5000 Watts worth of heat to bring 5 gallons to a boil in a reasonable amount of time, and about 1/2 that to keep it rolling. You should be able to do this for less than $150.

Pol has a good thread on his setup in the DIY or Equipment section here.

Good luck and keep brewing!

 

[missing link]

Just do it indoors. I know lots of people who run a tank-fed propane burner indoors for making stews or whatnot (just DON'T fry a turkey or anything indoors). It's not dangerous provided you have a little ventilation and an assurance that nothing will tip the stand over. You can buy a cheap carbon monoxide detector for some assurance.

The heat given off trying to bring wort to a boil will melt, singe or ruin carpet or vinyl flooring directly under the burner. It will kill grass and even make it start smoking. Just ask how I know this!!! Using a powerful burner on anything other than concrete is asking for trouble. I know some of you use them on wood decks with success but I bet that decking is extremely hot.

The rules regarding multifamily dwellings are more stringent so your neighbor can't burn your house down with his grill. In a single family home it is perfectly fine to burn your own house down.

Linc

 

[bpugh1975]

I know some of you use them on wood decks with success but I bet that decking is extremely hot.

I brewed one of my first batches on a large wooden deck and after I saw sap oozing and bubbling from a knot in the wood, I decided that maybe I was pushing my luck. I didn't want to cause any damage to my already aging deck.

 

[p4ck37p1mp]

“Among the natural rights of the colonists are these: First a right to life, secondly to liberty, and thirdly to property; together with the right to defend them in the best manner they can”
--Samuel Adams

Get on the board, get to know the president, bribe your neighbors. All tactics I use to bypass HoA rules all the time. So long as I don't do anything very visible from the street or to degrade my home's value (I do a lot to do the opposite actually) and bringing down community property values it is NOT anyone else's business.

+1 .. to the comment about are all the people grilling getting cease and desist letters? No? Hmm, write a nasty letter back complaining about that.

But only after calling a meeting with those said grillers, have a neighborhood bbq party, bring some home brew, get to know people and tell them the story.

Crazy guy causing problems? Have you, he or others heard of Baker Act? He started **** with me, he'd get Baker Acted until he learned to mind his own business. My personal and property rights come first. Crazy person or not, I have no sympathy for 'rabble rouser' mentality. Point blank, follow the law but the HoA can be battled with a little contemplating, perseverance and sheer will.

I had a crazy neighbor once that we had arrested several times. But that is another story..

 

[TommyBoy]

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".

You can't assume that this was the actual cause of the complaint. You don't know what they are thinking.

And what had you pinpoint meth as the drug?

If someone thought you were manufacturing meth at your home in a neighborhood you would definitely have an officer at your place questioning you asap.

 

[Laughing_Gnome_Invisible]

I didn't want to cause any damage to my already aging deck.

Clearly, you have never watched Blue Collar TV.

 

[jgln]

Clearly, you have never watched Blue Collar TV.

..and I heard its a huge deck.

 

[Bopper]

..and I heard its a huge deck.

My deck is bigger than your deck

 

[Bobby_M]

If the HOA has officially (via written notice) demanded cease and desist on the garage propane burner and you later burn the entire building down, you can be sure the insurance company is going to sue you personally for damages.

 

[FireBrewer]

And what had you pinpoint meth as the drug?

My guess is these:

Let's see...propane tanks, buckets, large glass vessels, lab equipment. None of those are found in a homebrewer's home, right?

 

[mmb]

Get a tailgate tent and move outside. You can even get walls for the tent to use in winter.

 

[jgln]

My deck is bigger than your deck

Are you sure? Let me go home and measure mine and we will compare. I have been told my deck is huge.

 

[llazy_llama]

what? Ive had friends who have gotten tickets because they didnt pick up the dog poop within 30 seconds of hitting the ground. Or lawn being 1/2" too long. Car parked too close to the line, this was after there was a 12" of snow on the ground

Depends on the base and the specific rules of that housing agency. Here, things are laid back and I get away with a lot more. Plus, it's an Air Force base, not an Army or Marine Corps base. :fro:

 

[iamjonsharp]

LP-gas burners having a LP-gas container with a water capacity greater than 2.5 pounds (1.14 kg)
[nominal 1 pound (0.454 kg) LP-gas capacity] shall not be located on combustible balconies or within 10
feet (3048 mm) of combustible construction.

Figure out how to run your propane burner off of extremely tiny propane tanks.
:cross: