Campfire on the fire bowl - legally allowed?

Some people question whether an open campfire in the backyard is legal. In this short blog post we answer this question. 

Important to distinguish: open and a closed fire

First of all, you should know the above definitions. An open fire is a fire that is lit directly on the ground, accordingly, without a fire bowl or other fireplace. The closed fire, on the contrary, is a typical campfire on the fire bowl - these are not ignited directly on the ground, but are firmly enclosed. 

While the former requires a municipal permit, lighting a campfire on the fire bowl is legally permitted and unproblematic. However, the size of the fire bowl must be taken into account: this regulation only applies to fireplaces up to a diameter of one meter! 

Is there a distance to be kept from the neighbor?

There is no minimum distance that must be observed by law. Nevertheless, you should make sure that the smoke does not develop too strongly, which depends to a large extent on the quality of the firewood used. In particular, firewood of inferior quality should be used with caution, as they can contain a comparatively large amount of moisture. A campfire on the fire bowl with such firewood would therefore produce more smoke due to the moisture. You can counteract this by choosing the right firewood.

Conclusion: The use of a fire bowl is allowed

Thus, the use of a fire bowl in your own garden is allowed. Refrain from using oversized fire bowls that are more than one meter in size and follow the usual safety rules: place the fire bowl on a solid surface and do not leave the bonfire burning unattended. Be especially careful in high winds. The choice of the right fire bowl also plays a role here - go for a fire bowl that has a stable & robust base and is sufficiently heavy so that it does not threaten to topple over in strong winds. Then nothing stands in the way of beautiful campfire evenings.

Firewood alternative: Can you use a fire bowl without smoke?

If you have reservations about a firewood bonfire but don't want to miss out on the fire experience, there are alternatives to firewood. To meet this requirement, our manufactory has developed an ethanol combustion chamber for the fire bowl, which can be inserted into the fire bowl and filled with smokeless bioethanol that leaves neither smoke nor an odor. The Stahlkunst ethanol combustion chamber allows you to enjoy a beautiful, smoke-free fire outdoors, which also warms up.

Fire bowls stainless steel

Ethanol stainless steel combustion chamber for fire bowls (smoke & soot-free fire with ethanol)

199,99 €