To build a fire pit, confirm your local burn rules, choose a level spot well away from the house, trees and fences, dig out the sod, lay a gravel base, and stack fire-safe stone or block around a steel fire ring. A weekend and basic tools are enough for most in-ground or stacked-stone pits.
Check local burn rules and setbacks before you dig
Fire pits are regulated locally, and the rules differ a lot. Call your fire department or check the city or county website for required distances, permit needs and burn bans. If you live under a homeowners association, read its rules too.
Two real examples show how much setbacks vary. The Albany, New York fire department advises building a pit at least 10 feet from your home, fences and trees. The Park City Fire District in Utah requires fires to be at least 25 feet from combustible vegetation or structures, both sideways and overhead, and limits the burning fuel to three feet across and two feet tall. Follow whatever your own jurisdiction sets.
Choosing materials for a DIY fire pit ring
A permanent pit should be built from or fully lined with noncombustible material such as brick, rock, concrete or heavy gauge metal.
| Material | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Steel fire ring insert | Inner liner that takes the direct heat | Protects the outer stone and sets the pit size |
| Fire brick | Heat-rated lining | Made for high temperatures, often used inside block walls |
| Dry, rough natural stone | Outer wall | Recommended over smooth stones by Albany’s fire department |
| River rock | Avoid in the fire area | Can hold moisture, heat quickly and burst |
| Gravel or crushed stone | Base and surrounding pad | Drains water and keeps grass back from the edge |
| Kit of wall blocks | Outer wall | Follow the maker’s instructions and use its liner if specified |
Building an in-ground fire pit, step by step
- Contact 811, the free national before-you-dig service, a few business days ahead so buried utility lines get marked.
- Set the ring in position and trace around it with marking paint or a shovel edge, adding the width of your stone wall.
- Remove the sod and dig the circle down several inches, keeping the bottom level. Clear out roots and other organic material.
- Spread a few inches of gravel, rake it level and tamp it firm.
- Set the steel ring in the center, then lay the first course of stone or block tight around it, checking level as you go.
- Stack the remaining courses, staggering the joints like brickwork. Use construction adhesive rated for your material between courses if the maker recommends it.
- Extend gravel or pavers several feet around the outside so sparks land on something that can’t burn.
What to burn, and what never to use
Burn dry, seasoned firewood cut small enough to stay inside the pit. Albany’s fire department warns never to use gasoline or kerosene to start a fire, since those fuels can make it grow out of control fast, and suggests avoiding soft woods such as pine and cedar, which pop and throw sparks. Don’t burn trash, treated lumber or yard waste unless your local rules allow it.
Skip windy days, and keep a garden hose, a bucket of water or a fire extinguisher within reach every time you light it. Albany’s guidance also says to keep children and pets at least 3 feet from the fire and to avoid wearing flammable fabrics such as nylon or loose-fitting clothing near the flames. Keep chairs back far enough that nobody has to lean in to feel the heat.
Putting a backyard fire out completely
Never walk away from a fire that is still burning or glowing. Drown the embers with water, stir the ashes with a shovel so the water reaches everything, then add more water and stir again. Hold the back of your hand near the ashes. If you still feel heat, keep going. Leave only when the pit is cool to the touch, and store any ashes you remove in a metal container with a lid, away from the house.
If a fire escapes the pit and you can’t put it out quickly, call 911.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a permit to build a backyard fire pit?
It depends on where you live. Some cities require a building permit or a burn permit, some ban wood fires on certain days, and others have no permit at all. Call your local fire department or check your city or county website before you build, and read any homeowners association rules.
Can I build a fire pit on a wood deck?
A wood-burning pit on a combustible deck is a serious fire risk, and your local fire code may not allow it. Build on bare ground, gravel or pavers instead. If you want fire on a deck, look for a gas unit listed for that use and follow its clearance instructions and your local fire rules.
How deep should a backyard fire pit be?
A common design is dug a few inches down for a gravel base, with walls built up above ground. Some jurisdictions set specific depth or wall height rules. Park City, Utah, for example, requires pits dug 18 inches into mineral soil or rings at least 18 inches tall, so check your local code.
How do you start a fire in a fire pit?
Pile tinder such as dry leaves, grass and small twigs in the center, then lean kindling, sticks under an inch around, over it like a teepee. Light the tinder with a match or lighter, never a flammable liquid, blow gently at the base, and add larger pieces of dry, seasoned firewood as the kindling catches.
How does a smokeless fire pit work?
It uses a double wall to burn smoke a second time. Breeo, one maker, explains that air enters near the base, heats as it rises between the inner and outer walls, and exits through holes around the rim, where it mixes with the smoke and reignites it. Dry, seasoned wood still helps, since the wrong fuel smokes in any pit.
