A New York terrace usually goes quiet in late October. The furniture is still out, the view is still there, and nobody sits outside because the air off the river is cold and the wind on the 14th floor has opinions. The right patio heater changes that, and it can keep a dinner table in use well into winter.
In New York City the first question is which heater is allowed. Propane is mostly off the table for apartment terraces, so the real work is choosing, wiring and mounting a hardwired heater well.
The short answer
The FDNY prohibits propane grills on apartment terraces, balconies and any roof, and city heater guidance bars 20 pound propane containers on rooftops, balconies and terraces. That rules out the standard propane patio heater for most NYC terraces. The usual answer is a hardwired electric infrared heater from Bromic or Infratech, wired by a licensed electrician at the voltage your building supplies. Where natural gas already reaches the terrace, a hardwired gas heater is a second option, subject to permits and board approval.
Key takeaways
- Portable propane heaters with 20 pound tanks are not a legal option on apartment terraces, balconies or roofs in NYC.
- Electric infrared heaters warm people and surfaces directly, so they still feel effective in open, breezy spaces.
- Check your building voltage first. Infratech says a 240 volt heater on a 208 volt supply delivers only about 60 percent of its intended output.
- Most electric models want at least 6 to 8 feet of height. Bromic Platinum specifies 72 inches on a wall and 96 inches on a ceiling.
- Wind on high floors cuts coverage, so plan more fixtures aimed at the seating rather than one large unit.
- Co-op and condo rules are often stricter than city code. Expect an alteration agreement before any wiring or drilling.
In this guide
- NYC terrace heating at a glance
- Can you use a propane patio heater on an NYC terrace?
- Why is electric infrared the usual NYC answer?
- What circuit does an electric patio heater need?
- How high do you mount it, and how much does it cover?
- Does wind on a high floor make heaters useless?
- When does a natural gas heater make sense?
- Do you need co-op or condo board approval?
- Terrace heating in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens
- Our recommended models
- Which should you choose?
- Frequently asked questions
NYC terrace heating at a glance
| Option | Apartment terrace or roof | What it takes |
|---|---|---|
| Portable propane (20 lb tank) | Not permitted per FDNY guidance | Not an option in multiple dwellings |
| Electric infrared, 240 or 208 volt | The usual choice | Licensed electrician, hardwired circuit, building approval |
| Electric infrared, 120 volt | Small balconies only | 1,500 watts max, about a 5 by 5 foot area |
| Hardwired natural gas | Possible in existing buildings with gas at the terrace | Gas piping permit, licensed plumber, board approval |
Can you use a propane patio heater on an NYC terrace or balcony?
For most apartment owners, no. The FDNY's own summer safety guidance lists three things as prohibited in New York City: storing or using a propane grill on the roof of any building, on a residential property with three or more families, or on the terrace or balcony of an apartment building. The Department of Buildings barbecue guidance makes the same point and adds that propane tanks cannot be stored on roofs.
The city has also published heater guidance, written for outdoor dining, that speaks directly to propane heaters. It says 20 pound containers are prohibited on rooftops, balconies and terraces, and only containers of 16.4 ounces or less are allowed there. A typical freestanding mushroom heater runs on a 20 pound cylinder, so it fails that test before anyone lights it.
The residential rules name grills, not heaters, but the cylinder is the same and the heater guidance treats terraces the same way. We do not install propane heaters on apartment terraces. One and two family homes have more room (the DOB summary allows a grill with no more than two 20 pound tanks, citing Fire Code 307.5.3), but confirm with the FDNY before relying on a propane heater.
Electric Patio Heaters All Patio Heaters
Why is electric infrared the usual NYC answer?
Electric infrared has no tank, no flame and no exhaust, so it avoids every propane issue above. It also suits open terraces: infrared warms the people and surfaces it points at instead of heating air that the wind simply carries off.
Two brands cover most of what we install. Bromic Platinum Electric hides the element behind dark glass, so you see a low red glow rather than an orange bar. Infratech builds quartz element heaters in California in many lengths, wattages and colors. We compare them in detail in Bromic vs. Infratech patio heaters, and our patio heater buying guide covers the full category.
What circuit does an electric patio heater need?
These are permanently hardwired appliances. Bromic and Infratech both require installation by a licensed electrician, with a disconnect in the fixed wiring. Infratech's manual adds copper wire rated for 90°C and a minimum IPX4 rating on outdoor components. The draw is real. Bromic lists its Platinum 4,500 watt model at 18.8 amps at 240 volts, and an Infratech 6,000 watt dual element heater draws 25 amps. Each one usually takes its own circuit, and your electrician sizes the breaker and wire to code.
Here is the one detail that saves the most disappointment in New York: find out your building's voltage before you choose a heater. Many apartment buildings supply 208 volts, not 240. Infratech warns that a 240 volt heater on a 208 volt supply produces only about 60 percent of its intended infrared output. Both brands make heaters for this. Bromic offers a dedicated Platinum Smart-Heat Electric 208V line, and Infratech builds models at 120, 208, 240, 277 and 480 volts.
A 120 volt heater can plug into a smaller circuit, but Infratech caps 120 volt models at 1,500 watts and describes them as right for spaces no larger than about 5 by 5 feet. Think small balcony, not dining table.
From our install team
On apartment terraces the deciding factor is usually panel capacity, not the heater. Ask the building's engineer or managing agent what spare capacity your unit's panel has before you fall for a 6,000 watt model. Two mid-size fixtures on separate circuits often fit when one large one does not.
How high do you mount a patio heater, and how much does it cover?
The manuals set the floor here, and they differ by brand. Bromic specifies a minimum floor clearance of 72 inches for wall mounting and 96 inches for ceiling mounting on Platinum Electric, with about 39 inches clear in front of the heater. Infratech's W Series manual says not to install a UL listed heater lower than 6 feet (8 feet for units labeled UL/cUL), with 18 inches from adjacent walls and 36 inches clear of combustibles in front. Wall mounts should angle down 30 to 60 degrees, and Infratech suggests about 45.
Coverage is published two ways. Bromic gives an area: about 65 square feet for the 2,300 watt Platinum, 108 for the 3,400 watt and 143 for the 4,500 watt. Infratech gives a footprint tied to height: roughly 5 by 5 feet for a 1,500 watt unit at 6 to 7 feet, 8 by 10 feet for a 4,000 watt dual element unit at 8 to 10 feet, and 11 by 11 feet for a 6,000 watt unit at 8 to 12 feet. Infratech notes that cold or wind reduces coverage, and sheltered spaces exceed it.
For a covered terrace or pergola, our guide to the best patio heater for a covered patio walks through recess kits and ceiling clearances in more depth.
Does wind on a high floor make patio heaters useless?
No, but it changes the plan. Wind carries heat away from skin faster, and both manufacturers say so plainly: Infratech's manual notes that extreme cold or wind can limit a heater's reach. Gas heaters are more sensitive still; Bromic's gas manuals rate its Platinum gas heaters for wind of about 10 miles per hour.
On exposed terraces we work with the wind instead of fighting it. Mount fixtures on the sheltered wall or under any overhang, lower them toward the minimum height the manual allows, and aim them at the seating rather than the middle of the space. A glass windscreen or planter wall on the prevailing side does more for comfort than extra wattage. Anchor into solid structure, never a railing.
From our install team
Count seats, not square feet. Over a dining table, one heater for every 6 to 8 feet of table, mounted around 8 to 9 feet up, is what keeps people comfortable in November. One large heater in the center of a big terrace warms whoever sits beneath it and very few others.
Not sure what fits your space? Send us a photo of your terrace, its compass orientation and your building's voltage, and we can sketch a fixture layout. Book a free design consultation and we will help you narrow it down.
When does a hardwired natural gas heater make sense?
Natural gas solves the tank problem because the heater connects to fixed piping. It also brings real output: the Bromic Platinum 500 natural gas heater is rated at 39,800 BTU. It suits a townhouse garden or private roof deck where gas already runs nearby. Gas piping requires a licensed plumber and permits, and the run from the meter is often the costliest part.
New construction is a different story. NYC Local Law 154 limits fossil fuel combustion equipment in new buildings, and the state All-Electric Buildings Act will do the same once enforced. Neither applies to ordinary work in existing buildings. We explain both in NYC Local Law 154 and fireplaces and the New York gas ban.
Gas Patio Heaters Bromic Platinum
Do you need co-op or condo board approval for a patio heater?
Almost always. Co-op and condo house rules can be stricter than city code, and a hardwired heater touches several things boards care about: the electrical riser and panel, penetrations through the facade or terrace ceiling, and appearance from the street. Expect the managing agent to ask for an alteration agreement, product specification sheets, the electrician's license and insurance, and sometimes drawings reviewed by the building's architect or engineer.
The smoothest approvals start early: manufacturer specs, the conduit route, and a fixture that reads as architecture, such as a slim Bromic Platinum or a soffit-matched Infratech.
Terrace heating in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens
The same rules apply across the five boroughs, but the terraces differ. In Manhattan we mostly see high setback terraces with strong wind, tight panel capacity and demanding boards, which points toward 208 volt electric fixtures mounted on the sheltered wall. Brooklyn brownstones and townhouses often have rear gardens or roof decks on one and two family buildings, where a gas line or a larger 240 volt circuit is more realistic. Queens has both, from Long Island City towers to detached homes in Bayside.
If the terrace is part of a larger outdoor room, our guide to a year-round outdoor kitchen in New York covers how heat, cover and cooking work together through the winter. Our Maspeth showroom is a short drive from all three boroughs, and we are glad to talk through your terrace there.
From our install team
Customers who stand under a glass-faced Bromic Platinum and then a quartz element heater usually decide in under a minute. Some love the orange glow; others want heat they cannot see.
Our recommended models
Every pick below is hardwired, made for permanent outdoor installation, and suited to the voltage and space limits of a New York terrace.
Bromic Heating Infratech Bromic Eclipse Heater Controls
For a terrace near the water, the Bromic Platinum Marine 4500W uses 316 stainless for salt air. To dim or schedule your heaters, pair Bromic fixtures with the Affinity Smart-Heat control system.
Which should you choose?
Choose electric infrared if:
- You live in an apartment, co-op or condo.
- Your terrace is on a high floor or a roof.
- You want the simplest board approval and no fuel to manage.
Choose hardwired natural gas if:
- You own an existing townhouse or house with gas near the outdoor space.
- You are heating a large, open garden where output matters most.
- The building is not new construction covered by Local Law 154.
For nearly every Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens terrace we see, the answer is electric infrared at the correct voltage, two or more fixtures aimed at the seating, mounted on the sheltered side. Choose Bromic Platinum if low glare and a clean look matter most. Choose Infratech if you need a specific length, wattage or color. Skip propane on any apartment terrace.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use a propane patio heater on my NYC balcony?
Not in an apartment building. The FDNY prohibits storing or using propane grills on apartment terraces and balconies and on any roof, and the city's heater guidance bars 20 pound propane containers on rooftops, balconies and terraces. Only containers of 16.4 ounces or less are allowed there.
Are electric patio heaters allowed on NYC terraces?
Electric heaters avoid the propane restrictions, but they must be hardwired by a licensed electrician, and most co-ops and condos require board approval and an alteration agreement before installation.
What size electric heater do I need for a terrace?
Plan by seating. Bromic rates its 3,400 watt Platinum Electric at about 108 square feet, and Infratech rates a 6,000 watt heater at about 11 by 11 feet. Wind reduces both, so exposed terraces usually need more than one fixture.
Will a 240 volt heater work in a 208 volt building?
It will run, but weakly. Infratech says a 240 volt heater on a 208 volt supply produces only about 60 percent of its intended infrared output. Confirm your voltage with a licensed electrician and order a 208 volt model if needed.
How high should a patio heater be mounted?
Follow your model's manual. Bromic Platinum Electric needs at least 72 inches of floor clearance on a wall and 96 inches on a ceiling. Infratech says no lower than 6 feet for UL listed units and 8 feet for UL/cUL units.
Talk to a specialist
Keep your terrace in use through winter
We have been designing, selling, installing and servicing fire features and outdoor kitchens for over 30 years across New York City, Long Island, Westchester, New Jersey and South Florida. We can help you choose the right voltage, layout and fixtures, and prepare what your board will ask to see.
Book a free consultation Call 718-326-4328Showroom: 58-30 Maspeth Ave, Maspeth, Queens. Our Greenvale, Long Island showroom at 13 Glen Cove Road opens winter 2026. Plan your visit.
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Written by the NYC Fireplaces & Outdoor Kitchens team. Last reviewed October 2026. We sell, install and service the products discussed here.
Sources: FDNY summer safety guidance, NYC DOB barbecue guidance (Fire Code 307.5), NYC outdoor heater FAQ, FDNY propane heater bulletin, Bromic Platinum Smart-Heat Electric, Bromic Platinum Electric manual, Infratech coverage chart, Infratech W Series instructions, Infratech FAQs. Specifications change; always confirm with the manufacturer's current installation manual.