Baba Basra 2:1-2

Baba Basra 2:1

One person may not dig a pit close to another person’s pit. The same is true of a trench, a vault, a canal or a laundry pool. These things must be at least three handbreadths (about nine inches) from the wall of the other person’s pit and he must plaster the newly-dug pit with lime (to prevent water seepage). The residue of olives after pressing, manure, salt, lime and rocks must be placed three handbreadths away from a neighbor’s wall, or it must be plastered with lime. Seeds, a plow and urine must be three handbreadths from a neighbor’s wall. A mill must be distanced three handbreadths from the lower millstone, which is four handbreadths (about 12”) from the upper millstone; an oven must be distanced three handbreadths from its base, which is four handbreadths from its edge.

Baba Basra 2:2

An oven may not be placed in a house unless it has four cubits (about six feet) of clearance above it. On an upper level, it must have a cement floor of three handbreadths thick beneath it; a stove requires a cement floor one handbreadth thick. If the oven or stove causes damage, the owner must pay for it. Rabbi Shimon says that if one followed these prescribed safety precautions, he is exempt from paying for damage caused.