A Pefect Circle…

…Of buck passing.

I have been vaguely aware of the dumb rules surrounding grilling at apartments in Omaha for a while now, but I finally realized how dumb they are a few days ago. The rules have been the same at every apartment I have lived in, and known of in Omaha.

• The apartment notes on grills says “We do not allow charcoal grills, but you are free to use propane grills on your balcony”
• The Omaha fire code allows for charcoal grills near apartment buildings, and propane grills, but your not allowed to have or to store the 20lb propane bottles within 50 feet of the apartment.

What hit me is that its such a perfect dodging of being the final authority. Both the OFD and the apartments neatly avoid banning people from grilling / having grills in apartments, but combined there is no way your actually allowed to have a grill.

There is one detail I left out, is that the little lantern sized propane bottles are ok by every one’s standards, so the little ultra-portable grill we have is fine.

Every spring, you start hearing rumors of Omaha Fire Marshal inspections handing out fines to people with grills, but always from a friend of a friend. I don’t know of anyone who has actually had to pay a fine.

-Jordan