The California fire code seeks to protect both tenants and the nature they surround from unnecessary and avoidable fires.
For both grilling enthusiasts and outdoor kitchen developers, this has impacted where they can place their grill and what kind of fuel it can use.
In this blog, we’ll give you an overview of the statewide code and introduce an alternative form of grilling that performs just as well as your preferred method.
The California Fire Code (CFC) sets the baseline for outdoor kitchen regulations and safety. Remember, local jurisdictions may add additional ordinances that will impact your grilling options.
Here are some of the ways it impacts the placement and choice of grill.
You cannot have an open flame grill:
There are some exceptions to these rules (e.g. having a sprinkler system) that allow open flame grills. These can be found in CFC 308.1.1.
For propane and natural gas grills, Chapter 61 regulates how gas lines and fuel tanks must be installed and stored. These are mostly consistent with NFPA 58.
(In many cases, charcoal grills are not allowed as per the California Fire Code.)
If you want a quality grill on your balcony or are unable to have an open-flame grill in your outdoor kitchen due to CFC compliance requirements, there are some alternatives.
Flameless grills are a great solution to have a BBQ grill while still remaining code-compliant. Many assume that having an electric grill means having a sub-par grilling experience, however, with the right cooking appliance, you can get the full grilling experience you and your tenants expect.
ElectriChef grills are a fully electric, flameless alternative that makes CFC and NFPA code compliance easy. And the best part is, they perform like traditional open-flame grills.
Explore our wide variety of stainless steel grills that get up to 600 degrees in minutes!