Key facts
- IFC 307.4.2: recreational fires not within 25 ft of a structure or combustible material.
- IFC 307.4.3: portable outdoor fireplaces per the maker's instructions and not within 15 ft. Exception: one- and two-family dwellings.
- IFC 307.4.1: bonfires 50 ft, unless in a barbecue pit. Bonfires need a permit (307.2).
- IFC 307.5: constant attendance and a 4-A extinguisher or other approved means, such as a garden hose, on hand.
- Washington's 2021 IFC adoption (WAC 51-54A) took effect March 15, 2024. Oregon's 2025 Oregon Fire Code took effect October 1, 2025.
- Seattle and Portland both use 25 ft for recreational fires and 15 ft for portable outdoor fireplaces, with the house and duplex exemption.
IFC text is from UpCodes' reproduction of IFC Section 307. Adoption dates are from the Washington State Building Code Council and the Oregon State Fire Marshal. Cities and counties can amend the model code, so your fire department has the final word.
Distance by fire type
| Fire type | What it is | Minimum distance from structures | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recreational fire | Open fire, fuel area 3 ft across and 2 ft high or less, not in a fireplace, grill or barbecue pit | 25 ft from structures or combustible material | IFC 307.4.2 |
| Portable outdoor fireplace | Portable solid-fuel fireplace of steel, concrete, clay or other noncombustible material, open or with a short chimney | 15 ft, and per the maker's instructions; one- and two-family homes exempt from the 15 ft | IFC 307.4.3 |
| Bonfire | Larger fire, by permit | 50 ft unless contained in a barbecue pit | IFC 307.4.1 |
| Gas fire pit or table | Listed outdoor decorative gas appliance | Per the listing and manual (example: 72 in overhead, 24 in to combustible side walls) | Outdoor GreatRoom spec sheet |
| Grills and open-flame cooking devices | Charcoal burners and other open-flame cookers | Not within 10 ft of combustible construction or on combustible balconies, except at one- and two-family homes | IFC 308.1.4, as summarized by Whatcom County |
A note on that house exemption. It removes the 15 foot rule for a portable outdoor fireplace at your own single-family home, but it does not remove the maker's instructions, which still apply. Whatcom County's Fire Marshal guide adds that "this distance should be used for safety" even where it is not required. We agree. The exemption is not a reason to set a wood fire next to your siding.
Is my fire pit a recreational fire or a portable outdoor fireplace?
This is the question that decides 25 feet versus 15 feet, and the code leaves room for judgment. A fire ring or a hole in the ground with logs in it is a recreational fire. A manufactured steel unit sold as a fire pit, especially one with a spark screen or chimney, may meet the portable outdoor fireplace definition. Smokeless double-wall pits are a gray area. In our wood vs gas vs smokeless guide we treat them as likely portable outdoor fireplaces, but we found no ruling that settles it. If you cannot get 25 feet, ask your fire department which category your exact pit falls into before you buy it.
Washington and Oregon specifics
| Rule | Seattle | Portland |
|---|---|---|
| Recreational fire | 25 ft from any structure or combustible; max 3 ft by 2 ft | 25 ft from structures or combustibles; max 3 ft by 2 ft |
| Portable or patio fireplace | Not on a deck or balcony; 15 ft from structures, combustibles or vegetation; single-family and duplexes exempt | 15 ft and per maker; one- and two-family dwellings exempt |
| Fuel | No trash, yard waste, treated wood or cardboard | Clean, dry, untreated natural firewood only |
| During burn bans | Not allowed during an air quality burn ban | Prohibited during an applicable burn ban |
| Grills | Recommends 10 ft from patio furniture, railings or siding | Barbecue equipment is outside DEQ open burning rules |
Sources: Seattle Fire Department CAM 5022 (updated October 2024) and Portland Fire and Rescue FIR 3.08 (updated September 15, 2026). Elsewhere in Washington, county and city fire marshals enforce the state's adopted IFC with local amendments, and Whatcom County's guide is a good example of how they explain it. Air quality bans are a separate program, covered in our Washington burn ban guide.
Gas fire pits: manufacturer clearances, propane and permits
Gas fire pits and tables are often certified to ANSI Z21.97, the standard for outdoor decorative gas appliances. The Outdoor GreatRoom spec sheet below names that standard. Seattle's CAM 5022 and Portland's FIR 3.08 do not set a gas fire pit distance, so the manual's clearances are the ones to follow. Outdoor GreatRoom's ready-to-finish linear fire pit spec sheet lists "72" from top of burner to any overhead combustible material," 24 inches from the burner trim to combustible side walls, and 4 inches below the burner. Other models differ, so read the manual for yours.
For propane, the tank has its own rules. NFPA 58 covers where LP-gas containers can sit relative to buildings. NFPA's fact sheet on placing containers notes that tanks may go under an overhang only where "the area is open on at least 50% of the sides." Keep the cylinder where the manual puts it, usually in the table's base enclosure or a set distance away.
A permanent natural gas line is permit work in most places. Portland, for example, requires a residential mechanical permit to "install, repair, or alter gas piping (indoor or outdoor)" between the meter and an appliance (Portland mechanical permits). NFPA 54, the National Fuel Gas Code, covers fuel gas piping and appliance installation, and a licensed installer will know how your city applies it.
Covered patios, pergolas, decks and HOAs
- Wood under a roof: no. Breeo's X Series user guide says to "keep at least 10 feet of clearance above the pit from branches or overhangs" and never to use it in a building, garage or enclosed area.
- Gas under a partial cover: sometimes. Outdoor GreatRoom allows two side walls with an overhead cover, or three side walls with at least 30 percent of the wall area permanently open, plus its 72 inch overhead clearance.
- Decks: Breeo says never on wooden or composite decks or stamped concrete. Use a noncombustible base such as stone, gravel or dirt.
- HOAs and leases: they can be stricter than the fire code, including a full ban on wood fires. Check before you buy.
How to measure and place a fire pit
- Identify your fire type: open recreational fire, portable outdoor fireplace, or gas.
- Measure from the edge of the fire to the house, fences, sheds, decks, woodpiles and overhanging branches.
- Look up, too. Overhead clearance is where covered patios fail.
- Read the manual for the maker's clearances and surface rules.
- Check your city fire code, your HOA rules and any burn ban before the first fire.
- Keep a hose, buckets or a 4-A extinguisher within reach and stay with the fire until it is out.
Related guides
- Fire pit rules in Denver, Salt Lake City, Reno and Austin
- Fire pit rules in New York City, Philadelphia and Atlanta
- Fire pit rules in Anchorage, Honolulu, Fargo, Bismarck, Charleston WV and Cheyenne
- Fire pit rules in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut and Rhode Island
- Kentucky fire hazard season and Louisville fire pit rules
- Utah no-burn days and fire pits
- Can you put a fire pit on a Trex or composite deck?
- The best fire pits of 2026, ranked by use case
- Can you use a propane fire pit during a summer burn ban in Washington or Oregon?
- Wood vs gas vs smokeless fire pit
- Washington burn bans and fire pits
- Fire pits in Las Vegas
- Fire pit collection
- Fire pit rules in Albuquerque, Boise, Des Moines, Wichita and Omaha
- Fire pit rules in Chicago, Dallas and North Las Vegas
- Fire pit rules in Houston, San Antonio, Phoenix and Sacramento
- Fire pit rules in Columbus, Milwaukee, Louisville and Kansas City
Frequently asked questions
How far does a fire pit need to be from a house?
Under the International Fire Code, a recreational fire must be at least 25 feet from a structure or combustible material (IFC 307.4.2). A portable outdoor fireplace, such as a steel wood-burning pit with a screen, must follow its maker's instructions and stay 15 feet away (307.4.3), though one- and two-family homes are exempt from that 15 feet. Gas fire pits follow their listing and manual.
Does the 25 foot rule apply to my backyard fire pit?
It applies to a recreational fire, which the IFC and Portland define as an open fire of 3 feet across and 2 feet high or less that is not in an outdoor fireplace, portable outdoor fireplace, grill or barbecue pit. An open fire ring on the ground fits that description. A manufactured solid-fuel unit may count as a portable outdoor fireplace instead. Your fire department decides which applies.
How far does a fire pit need to be from a house in Seattle?
Seattle Fire Department CAM 5022 (updated October 2024) requires recreational fires to be at least 25 feet from any structure or combustible material. Patio fireplaces must not be on a deck or balcony or within 15 feet of a structure, but single-family homes and duplexes are exempt from that requirement. No fire is allowed during an air quality burn ban.
How far does a fire pit need to be from a house in Portland?
Portland Fire and Rescue FIR 3.08, updated September 15, 2026, sets recreational fires at a maximum of 3 feet across and 2 feet high and at least 25 feet from structures or combustible material. Portable outdoor fireplaces need 15 feet and must follow the manufacturer's instructions, but the 15 foot rule does not apply to one- and two-family dwellings.
How far does a gas fire pit need to be from the house?
Neither Seattle's CAM 5022 nor Portland's FIR 3.08 sets a distance for gas fire pits. They follow their listing, often ANSI Z21.97, and the manual. One Outdoor GreatRoom spec sheet lists 72 inches from the top of the burner to overhead combustibles and 24 inches from the burner trim to combustible side walls. Whatcom County treats gas fire pits as open-flame cooking devices, which the IFC keeps 10 feet from combustible construction except at one- and two-family homes.
Can I put a fire pit under a covered patio or pergola?
Not a wood fire. Breeo says to keep at least 10 feet of clearance above its X Series pits from branches or overhangs and never to use one in an enclosed area. Some gas fire tables allow a partial cover: Outdoor GreatRoom permits two side walls with an overhead cover, or three walls with at least 30 percent of the wall area permanently open, plus its overhead clearance.
Can I use a fire pit on a wood or composite deck?
Not a wood-burning one, in most cases. Breeo says never to use its X Series on wooden or composite decks, stamped concrete or any heat-sensitive surface. Seattle bars patio fireplaces on decks and balconies outside single-family homes and duplexes. Some gas fire tables are designed for decks, so check that the manual allows it and follow its clearances.
Can my HOA ban fire pits even if the city allows them?
Yes. Fire code distances are a minimum, and an HOA, condo board or lease can be stricter, including banning wood fires entirely. Seattle's CAM 5022 makes the same point about grills, noting that building management or an HOA may have additional rules. Read your CC&Rs before you buy a pit, not after.
Keep reading
Browse our fire pits collection, see all guides, or ask us a question about your project.