With the risk of the coronavirus still ever-present, a balcony barbecue is an attractive option right now. 

But is it allowed? The short answer is yes, but you’ll need to check your lease and remember to be a good neighbour. 

Swiss law does not prevent grilling on balconies, but it does prevent producing “excessive emissions” which annoy your neighbours. 

‘Excessive’?

What exactly is ‘excessive’? The law has been drawn purposefully vague on the matter – which basically means it is up to your tenancy agreement and whether or not your neighbour considers it to be ‘excessive’. 

The use of electric, gas or charcoal grills are permitted for most tenants in Switzerland, although some lease agreements restrict charcoal barbecues. 

Before buying a grill, make sure to check your lease agreement. 

If you’re going to grill on your balcony, don’t go over the top. Photo: Pexels

No restriction on grilling can be put in place without the tenant’s express consent. However you may have signed your tenancy agreement without checking to see the grill rules. 

Some Swiss tenancy arrangements have relatively strict rules – from banning flushing or standing up to pee after 10pm or on weekends – so be sure to check out your lease before you sign anything. 

READ: Ten strange Swiss laws

If you’ve signed a lease which prohibits the use of charcoal grills, you will only be allowed to grill with gas or electric barbecues. 

If there is no such restriction, then your landlord cannot stop you from doing so with any type of grill. 

According to Comparis.ch, any restriction in a tenancy agreement needs to be proportionate and not interfere in the lives of either tenants or their neighbours. 

Chatting with your neighbours beforehand and trying not to grill after 10pm – not to mention inviting your neighbour around for a sausage – are ways to cut through any potential tension. 

Put simply, this means that grilling will be permitted as long as you make sure you don’t smoke out your neighbours.