I just moved into a condo a few weeks ago on the third floor. I want to put a grill on my balcony, but this is technically against Massachusetts law (liquid propane-gas is heavier than air, so if there is a leak it can sink to lower floors), but this is a widely ignored law in Mass. The people on the second floor seem nice, but she seems kind of all-business. I believe that charcoal grills are legal with the state, but I think they are against condo rules, and I'd rather have gas anyway (it'd be a pain to get rid of ashes on the 3rd floor).

So do I ask people in the building (there are five other people total) or just buy the grill? I really want to be able to grill, but I also like the people in my building and I want to be on good terms with them.

As preemptive apology for this lame thread, here is a picture of a misc. hot chick:

I live in an apartment where it says you cannot have a grill. I'm in viewing distance of the office and there is a pool. No one ever says anything nor have I gotten a warning. I have a gas grill and use it a ton.

schwiza, I say ask. here's my reasoning:

Your neighbor is very likely to say yes. If you ask and they say yes, you seem like a good neighbor and they'll appreciate it. If you ask and they say no, they would have reported you for it even if you didn't ask, because clearly they are huge douches, so, nothing really changes.

Just do it. I did it for 2 years no problem.

Btw i like the technique of googling 'hot chick' to get a hot chick for your post.

perfectly grilled steak >>>>> neighbors liking you

just do it and just be prepared to get rid of it if someone complains.

Image search FTW! I did get a disappointing number of pictures of a Rob Schneider movie called "Hot Chick."

I lived on the first floor and had a porch right on the parking lot. We had a charcoal grill and used it nightly from about February-July. (Texas)

Sometime we would use tons of lighter fluid just for the hell of it because let's face it, fireballs are fun. One time a security guard drove up right as we lit a huge fireball that almost touched the cement balcony above us and told us we weren't supposed to be grilling. He drove off and we started again of course. This happened about 10-15 more times and we continued to grill every night.

I say just do it, grilling is fun!

Is it possible that if it comes down to the neighbors/ condo HOA going nuts over you having a grill that you could keep it somewhere outside( downstairs?)

When I lived in a condo I just did it anyways, and after dealing with all the threatening letters, I just moved it downstairs and chained it to the exterior stairs.

If this is an option, i would say just get it.

If it's not, I would say better to ask first so you don't have to get rid of it.
Gringo had it right though, steak >>>> neighbors

I'm the same in an apartment, but condos seem to have more of a connection with your neighbors. Is the issue just a propane link and not a fire hazzard? Can you get some kind of propane gas detector to put near the grill?

Get the charcoal one and just tip it over the railing. Ashes are safer than gas.

what's the worst that can happen? you get a warning or a citation? just do it until someone says otherwise. live life on the edge!

If you ask most people will say yes but the people who will say yes also won't complain if you just do it.

I would just do it. Because I'm stubborn and stupid that would probably lead to bad things happening should people have an issue with it. If you are not stubborn and stupid and people complain you can just get rid of it. It is not like you are going to go to jail for breaking a city by-law / condo corp rule.

Also, the reason cited about propane sinking and omg its a danger is BS. They actually just don't want you having FIRE in your condo or on the porch. Just like how colleges said you couldn't have a microwave or toaster or something in your dorm room.

is that peachy?

Its easier to ask forgiveness than permission.

EDIT:
Alot of people who would be fine with propane woud get really ****ing annoyed at this, and with good cause

The worst that can happen is that my neighbors tell me to get rid of it and I blow hundreds of dollars on a grill that I can't use (there's no viable place to use it or store it on the ground level).

I could be living above these people for the next 6 or 7 years. If I get a grill and they tell me to get rid of it, it's going to put us on a pretty unfriendly ground. If they quietly resent my getting a grill, that's not great either.

Yeah, I agree there is 0 actual danger here, especially because my grill will not be old and falling apart and because I'm not an idiot.

hm. good point, i don't think of things that way. my neighbors despise me, and it doesn't really effect my life too much.

i mean, you can always resell it for pretty much the same you bought it for. i don't know. if i was in your situation and cared what other people thought i'd probably just ask everyone if they were cool with it. my .02$

Also, how visible is you balcony? There are now some decent grills that use the smaller tanks and might not be visible/conspicuous if you have dense railings. Could be a little more of a pain in the ass to have to bend down to check the meat, but only marginally so.

No one thinks they are an idiot.

I think the smell of meat cooking would be the giveaway.

I have a condo and 4 of 8 tenants had small propane grills on our mini decks. We were up for insurance review and the insurance guy says no grills or rates go up. I never did ask how much....hmmmm
Anyway, all the grills were removed. The association president is pretty nitty. Which is good and bad....
SOOoooo either don't get a grill or get one and play dumb when you get called on it.

I think a couple of our group got together and bought one for the back yard.

man hot chick is hilarious, seriously

My roomate almost set our porch on fire once when we were deepfrying a turkey. So if your roomate is a dumbass, then I would say no.