The Pullman Police Department (PPD) is cracking down on a tradition many WSU students would argue is as essential to Cougar culture as tailgates and game-day chants: porch couches.
Last week, the Pullman Police Department posted on social media reminding residents that city code prohibits placing indoor furniture like couches and recliners outdoors, even on porches. Officials framed it as part of the city’s ‘Nuisance Control Code’, citing community appearance issues and fire hazards — ending the long-standing tradition of burning couches after Cougar football victories. Translation: that beer-stained futon sitting on your deck is technically illegal in the city of Pullman.
For students living on College Hill, where porch furniture is practically a rite of passage, the ban feels out of touch.
“I wasn’t aware of the ban until about 30 seconds ago, and honestly it doesn’t make any logical sense,” said fourth-year psychology student Finn Kelly, as he sat on his porch couch. “It’s a custom thing here, every fraternity, every live-out, any student house has couches on their porch. It’s a huge part of the community. You sit outside, see your friends walk by, and talk about whatever. That’s what this school is about.”
The PPD reminded the community via an Instagram post that indoor furniture outside violates the Pullman Nuisance Control Code (Chapter 5.01). Pullman Radio says that the rule is a nuisance control issue tied to game-day couch fires.
Kelly said the city’s decision to use fines as an enforcement tool seems heavy-handed and he isn’t convinced that punishing porch culture will fix the problem. Kelly also mentioned that people would not know about the ban unless they followed the PPD on Instagram or Facebook.
“Couch fires are cool, but they do cause issues,” Kelly said. “If people are caught doing it [couch fires], fine them, fair. But don’t punish everyone who just wants to sit outside. That doesn’t add up.”
Other students, like Grant Johnson, a second-year business major, was just as surprised when he heard about the ban. “It’s surprising. It’s just furniture,” Johnson said. “You can set a lot of other things on fire, so I don’t really see how this changes anything. Porch couches are everywhere — it’s part of College Hill.”
Both Kelly and Johnson can agree that while couch burnings are attention-grabbing, the city’s crackdown won’t likely solve the problem. “No, it’s not going to stop it. If anything, people are going to burn more couches,” Kelly said.
For now, the PPD are sticking to their “nuisance control” message -but on College Hill, porch couches aren’t just furniture — they’re a symbol of Cougar culture. Judging by the reaction from students, this battle between city code and student tradition might be heating up faster than a post-game couch bonfire.
