Fire pits are fun, relaxing, and engaging. However, it’s important to follow local regulations when installing a fire pit. Your patio needs to be bit enough to fit the required laws, but it should also be situated for comfort and appearance. Choosing the right patio size for your fire pit can make it tremendously safer and all-around more enjoyable.
The patio size needed for a fire pit should be 6’ wider on all sides. For example, a 4’ round firepit should have a 16’ patio. The additional space leaves room for walking, sitting, and preventing the fire from spreading. If you have a roof over the patio, it should be 6’ above the fire pit or more.
In this post, you’ll find out how big your fire pit patio should be, how from the house it needs to be, and why the patio’s size matters. You’ll also learn how you can make your patio more fire pit-friendly.
How Big Should a Fire Pit Patio Be?
A fire pit patio needs to be big enough to fit fire pit regulations, which generally stretch about five feet on all sides. Belgard recommends keeping up to six feet on all sides of your fire pit. Not only will you keep it within local legal parameters, but you’ll also be able to move around the fire pit without getting too close.
If your fire pit isn’t large enough, you could be violating local regulations. Whether or not you’re comfortable with the cramped space, you wouldn’t want to risk a fine or be forced to get rid of your fire pit. Always measure the fire pit and ensure the patio is wide enough to hold it without causing problems in the future.
Quick Note: Fire pits need to be measured from one outer edge to the other, not the inner fire portion. The outer material often gets incredibly hot, which means it’s essential to keep people and belongings from the edges. Measure these dimensions and add 12 feet (six on both sides) to find the total required width.
How Far From a House Should a Fire Pit Be?
A fire pit should be at least 10 feet away from your house. If it’s too close, the sparks and radiating heat could cause structural damage. Furthermore, a fire pit that’s too close to nearby buildings will inevitably heat those buildings, costing money to cool them down. They could also slowly dry and crack the paint.
If you have house insurance, your fire pit can be detrimental without the proper dimensions. Mercury Insurance claims your fire pit should be between 10 to 25 feet from any flammable structure (including houses, sheds, detached garages, etc.). If your fire pit is too close and it causes a fire, you might be held accountable for all of the damages.
With this suggestion in mind, you can determine that the smallest size your fire pit’s patio needs to be is 18 feet if the patio is connected to a building. Most of the smallest fire pits are three feet. It needs to be 10 feet from the structure, bringing the patio to 13 feet. Add the required 6-foot regulation on all sides of the fire pit, and you’ll get to a total of 18 feet.
Why Does Patio Size Matter?
Patio size matters because it determines how many seats you can have, how high the fire risk is, and how elevated it is. The size of your patio also lets you know if you can have a roof over the patio and whether or not it’ll make your house too warm. Some fire pits can warm nearby buildings, so having an adequate patio is essential.
Here’s an in-depth look at each of these factors:
- Seating arrangements: If you want to have several seats or benches around the fire pit, you’ll need a lot of space. Consider extending the diameter of the patio by a couple of feet. This extension could let you walk around the fire pit without bumping into chairs or risk walking off the edges.
- Fire risk: The most apparent risk of having a small patio with a fire pit is that it could spread fires and sparks. While most modern fire pits are constructed with optimal safety in mind, it’s important to prevent unwanted accidents. The patio needs to be large enough to prevent the fire from spreading.
- Elevation: If you want to elevate the patio, you’ll need to take its size into consideration. After all, some elevated patios have stairs, rails, and more. If your elevated patio has a fire pit, you could sink the fire pit into the patio and enjoy a much more seamless appearance. It also lets the heat flow upward, helping you stay warm on cold nights.
- Roof possibilities: If you think you might want a roof over your patio someday, make sure it’s large enough to accommodate one. Sloped patio covers require a couple of extra feet on all sides. You’ll need to make sure the patio isn’t too close to nearby structures or anything else that’s flammable.
- Spreading heat: This factor isn’t much of an issue for most people, but it’s worth mentioning. If your fire pit is too big for the patio or it’s too close to a nearby structure, it’ll affect the paint, wood, and other construction materials. This effect could damage the building, requiring expensive repairs.
What to Know Before Choosing a Patio Size for a Fire Pit
Before choosing a patio size for a fire pit, keep these tips in mind:
- Make sure the patio is big enough. As you’ve read above, your patio needs to be large enough to fit any fire pit. Most fire pits don’t get smaller than three feet across. In other words, the smallest patio you should have with a fire pit is 15 feet across. If your patio isn’t big enough, you’ll have to extend it.
- Consider all of the items you want on the patio. You might want seats, outdoor lamps, plants, side tables, and other belongings. If your patio has a fire pit, you’ll need to keep everything several feet away from it. Not only can the radiating heat damage the items, but you’ll also cause potential tripping hazards.
- Think about whether or not you want steps leading up to the patio. If you have an elevated patio, you could add a few steps to make it easier to navigate. However, it’s important to leave room for the steps, walkway, and other items around the patio. You might need an extra three or four feet around the patio.
- Decide if you need fuel storage for the fire pit. If you want to store propane or wood near the fire pit, you’ll need to extend the patio by at least three or four feet in one direction. It’s important to never keep the fuel too close to the fire should the radiating heat could increase the risk of unwanted flames.
- Ask yourself if you might want to increase the fire pit’s size someday. If you need a bigger fire pit, you’ll need a bigger patio. Why not get ahead of the decision and get a patio that’s a few feet bigger than you currently have? You’ll be able to get the new fire pit without worrying about extending the patio down the road.
How to Improve Fire Pit Accessibility With a Small Patio
To improve the accessibility of your fire pit with a small patio, try these suggestions:
- Limit the seats on the patio. If you have a small patio with a fire pit, you’ll have to make some sacrifices. Unfortunately, the easiest way to clear up some space is to eliminate most of the seats. You could add a couple of permanent seats, then rely on folding chairs if you want to have guests over.
- Remove unnecessary decorations. Plants, tables, and other accessories might not be the best decision for a fire pit on a small patio. The fire pit will have to serve as the primary (and likely only) focal point. Having a lot of decorations can crowd the small patio, making it more difficult to walk around.
- Get a smaller fire pit if it’s too large for local regulations. While it might be tempting to grab the biggest fire pit you can get your hands on, it’s not worth breaking the law. The first thing you need to do when you think about getting a fire pit is call the local authorities to find out everything about the required dimensions.
- Extend the patio with a small staircase. Staircases make it much easier to access a crowded fire pit patio. Not only will it reduce foot traffic around the seats, but it’ll also create a clear path that’s just as functional as it is aesthetically pleasing. Consider adding railing on the fire pit for easier accessibility.
- Relocate the fire pit on the patio. It might seem like the fire pit is too big for the patio, but it could simply be that it’s too centered. Move the patio closer to one of the far edges to make it look and feel less crowded. Always ensure the fire pit is at least five to six feet away from all sides, but don’t shy away from finding the perfect location on the patio.
What to Do if Your Patio Is Too Small for a Fire Pit
If your patio is too small for a fire pit, you’ll need to extend the patio or get a smaller fire pit. The only other solution is to pour a new concrete foundation far from the house. Remember to make the patio at least five or six feet wider on every side. Sadly, if you can’t make these changes, you likely won’t be able to have a fire pit while sticking to most fire pit laws.
You can extend a patio by pouring more concrete or adding extra wood if it’s elevated. Another option is to get an outdoor oven or fireplace rather than a fire pit. Outdoor fireplaces and ovens don’t need as much patio space because they’re smaller and typically don’t have as many open flames. They also emit less heat (though it’s a good idea to keep about three to four feet on all sides).
Other than that, the fines aren’t worth risking. Even if you get away with it without the authorities finding out, your fire pit could pose serious risks for people, pets, and nearby buildings. You’re better off waiting until you can get a patio big enough to accommodate the fire pit and any desired seating arrangements.
Can You Use a Fire Pit with a Covered Patio?
You can use a fire pit with a covered patio as long as the cover is at least 6.6 feet above the fire pit. However, local regulations could vary between gas and wood fire pits. Always ask local authorities before adding a fire pit to your home whether or not you have a cover over the fire pit. They could also provide useful construction and placement advice.
According to Outland Living, the distance between your fire pit and a patio cover might have to be a minimum of 80 inches. However, it depends more on local regulations than anything else. You could opt for a vented gazebo or patio cover to let the flames go through the porous surface and prevent overheating.
If you choose an outdoor patio cover to go over your fire pit, the fire pit needs to be five to six feet from the pillars or the outer edge of the patio (whichever is closer). If the pillars are on the edge of the patio, they could take up to a foot away from the required space.
Final Thoughts
Fire pits are supposed to be exciting and accessible, not cramped and frustrating. Making your patio big enough to accommodate your fire pit will make a world of difference. You’ll have more than enough space for seating arrangements, fire pit regulations, and more.
