Here's a recipe for a backyard get-together on a summer evening in East Lansing: A handful of friends lounging in lawn chairs, burgers starting to brown on the grill, droplets of water condensing on a bottle of cold beer and — a fire?

MSU students have crossed East Lansing police in the past for lighting things on fire in residential areas, but if City Council approves an amendment to the fire code, some student renters would be within their rights to start fires in their yards.

Council could approve the revised law next week.

That doesn't mean burning couches or bonfires — permitted fires would have to burn in an outdoor fireplace.

In the past, residents of the city's neighborhoods could have fires on their properties if they first obtained a permit from the East Lansing Fire Department. That permitting process ended last October, when a sunset clause in the city's fire code that banned any outdoor fire took effect.

City Council is considering eliminating the clause permanently, which would allow residents in lower-density zoning areas to obtain permits to have fires.

Many of the city's single-family homes are in the residential zoning areas that would be allowed to have contained fires.

According to City Assessor Bob Johnson, 492 rental houses in East Lansing meet the necessary zoning requirements.

City Council originally added the sunset clause to give the law a trial period, Mayor Sam Singh said.

"It's something we should have extended when the deadline came up," Singh said. "For me, I'm comfortable moving forward on this."

East Lansing Fire Marshal Bob Pratt said about a dozen people applied for permits during the trial period, and he doesn't think allowing fires in residential areas poses a significant safety risk.

"Really, we haven't had any problems with it," Pratt said. "We're talking about very small fires in containers."

Anyone who lives in a neighborhood that meets the necessary residential zoning requirements can apply for a permit simply by stopping by the fire department, Pratt said.

The city doesn't typically allow permits for fire pits, he said. Not only must fires be in an enclosed container, they must be at least 20 feet away from the house or property line, a water source must be readily available and burning of anything other than wood is strictly prohibited.

The fire department inspects properties before clearing them to have fires, and if neighbors complain about the smoke, the permit can be taken away.

Several students who live along Spartan Avenue said they'd be willing to get a permit to have fires.

"Some people really enjoy it enough that they might go to that extent," accounting junior Adam Fasel said. "I'd probably do it."

Council members raised no objections to the proposed change during their work session Tuesday.

Mayor Pro Tem Vic Loomis said he was most interested in hearing the fire marshal's assessment.

"Bottom line is, is this or is this not a safety issue," Loomis said.