World Marketing of America, Inc.

A small number of states still impose limits on the use of vent free gas heaters. While this number is reducing, the speed of the reduction has not kept pace with the speed of the improvements in the technology - Although some restrictions are altitude based (e.g. Colorado).

Some states have permitted the installation and use of the heaters but some areas within those states still have limits imposed. If you live in one of the "Not Permitted" states marked on the map, please check your local codes before purchase/installation.

There is some confusion on whether vent free is permitted in California yet. As of this writing the accurate position is: The state law states that vent free products may be sold and intalled under regulations written by the building department. But...... To date, those building regulations have not yet been written/finalised.

If you live in one of the "green" states below, you are free to take up the huge cost benefits now available to you.

If not, scroll down to see what the restrictions for your state are.

Vent Free Installation Map

Alabama	Permitted throughout state
Alaska	Permitted in various parts of state, if in doubt check local code
Arizona	Permitted in various parts of state, if in doubt check local code
California	The state law does state that vent-free gas products may be sold and installed under regulations written by the building department, no regulations have been written. This being the case, it is anticipated that the winter 2002/2003 season is not going to be vent free in California but winter next year should give the building department time to get their regulations finalised.
Colorado	Permitted in various parts of state, if in doubt check local code. But bare in mind the 4,500 feet altitude limit on the safety mechaisms before spending too much time doing this.
Connecticut	Permitted throughout state
Delaware	Permitted throughout state
District of Columbia	Permitted throughout state
Florida	Permitted throughout state
Georgia	Permitted throughout state
Hawaii	Permitted throughout state
Idaho	Permitted throughout state
Illinois	Permitted throughout state
Indiana	Permitted throughout state
Iowa	Permitted throughout state
Kansas	Permitted in various parts of state, if in doubt check local code
Kentucky	Permitted throughout state
Louisiana	Permitted throughout state
Maine	Permitted throughout state
Maryland	Permitted in most parts of state, if in doubt check local code
Massachusetts	The Governor of Massachusetts signed a new law into effect on March 8 2002 that will allow for the sale and installation of vent-free gas products as soon as the fire protection bureau writes the regulations
Michigan	Permitted in most parts of state, if in doubt check local code
Mississippi	Permitted throughout state
Minnesota	Permitted in most parts of state, if in doubt check local code
Missouri	Permitted throughout state
Montana	This is a UMC state that still does not allow the use of vent free gas products - however the state is considering adopting the IMC codes which do allow vent free
Nebraska	Permitted throughout state
New Hampshire	Permitted in most parts of state, if in doubt check local code
New Jersey	Permitted throughout state
New Mexico	Propane vent free permitted throughout state
New York	Permitted throughout state except New York City which is still in the legislative phase of allowing vent free gas products
Nevada	Propane vent free permitted throughout state, natural gas vent free permitted in various parts of state, if you want natural gas and you are in doubt check local code
North Carolina	Permitted throughout state
North Dakota	Permitted in most parts of state, if in doubt check local code
Ohio	Permitted throughout state excpt STARK COUNTY
Oklahoma	Permitted throughout state
Oregon	Permitted throughout state
Pennsylvania	Permitted throughout state
Rhode Island	Permitted throughout state
South Carolina	Permitted throughout state
South Dakota	Permitted in most parts of state, if in doubt check local code
Tennessee	Permitted throughout state
Texas	Permitted throughout state, except AUSTIN TEXAS
Utah	Permitted throughout state
Vermont	Permitted throughout state
Virginia	Permitted throughout state
Washington	Permitted in most parts of state, if in doubt check local code
West Virginia	Permitted throughout state
Wisconsin	Vent free gas products allowed in homes built prior to 1980. Other homes are possible in some areas, but check local code if in doubt
Wyoming	Permitted in most parts of state, if in doubt check local code

Why do some states impose (still impose) restrictions ?

There are 8 building code (model code) bodies used throughout the Unites States. 6 of them permit the use of vent free gas products, 2 of them do not. The UMC (Uniform Mechanical Code) body still does not permit the use of vent free gas products and is the reason most orange areas on our map still exist today. Some states are considering moving from UMC to IMC (International Mechanical Code), e.g. Montana. Other States have areas/localities that have gone ahead on their own and switched from UMC to the more up to date IMC regulations.

If your building code says no, pay attention to it. It will catch up with the rest of the country in time but..... When building code says no, your insurance company says no. It is not worth trying to skirt around the edge of the system.

Consider installing a more temporary form of space heating while you wait for your area to catch up. Or if funds allow, opt for a vented system but bare in mind whilst they might have a similar appearance on the outside, 75% to 85% of a vented gas products heat is given away to the outside environment via the vent. This escaping of your hard earned heating dollar makes vented gas products more expensive to run than electric space heating.