Gas fire pits and outdoor living spaces
Evenings cool off quickly at 5,000 feet. A fire feature and comfortable seating stretch patio season well into fall.
Outdoor living work goes beyond a flat patio: a fire feature ringed with seating, a grill counter near the kitchen door, or a pad set up for a pergola. Most of it is built from wall block and pavers that match the patio, so the whole space looks planned rather than pieced together.
Are wood-burning fire pits allowed in Fort Collins?
Permanent ones are not. A City of Fort Collins Building Services memo, effective August 11, 2021, says solid-fuel (wood-burning) permanent fire pits are not allowed within city limits, citing the city's air quality code. Gas fire pits are allowed when they're installed to the residential and fuel gas codes, with a permit and inspection of both the gas piping and the appliance.
What does a Fort Collins gas fire pit need?
- A permit, with a site plan and the manufacturer's specifications
- A listed, labeled appliance meeting ANSI Z21.97, installed per the manufacturer's instructions
- The right installer. The gas line and appliance must be installed by the homeowner, a licensed plumber or a licensed HVAC contractor. A landscape company can do it only if a licensed plumber or HVAC contractor on its staff does that work.
- Clearances. Follow the manufacturer's clearances; if none are given, the city requires at least 10 feet from structures and combustibles, including any roof or ceiling above.
The block or stone housing around the burner can be built by the hardscape crew, as long as it doesn't alter the listed flame assembly.
What else goes into an outdoor living area?
- Curved seat walls around the fire feature
- Grill islands and counters
- Pergola footings and pads
- Low-voltage lights in steps, walls and paths
Do pergolas need a permit?
In Fort Collins, a pergola is exempt only if it's 120 square feet or less, 8 feet tall or less, and at least 3 feet from every property line. Larger pergolas need a permit, and prefabricated pergolas must be engineer-stamped. Footings for posts and covered structures generally need to reach below Larimer County's 30-inch minimum frost depth.
Outside Fort Collins city limits, fire pit rules come from your town, fire district and current fire restrictions, so check before you design around a wood fire.
Every yard is different, so the contractor prices the job after walking the site, checking the soil and grade, and talking through the layout and pavers you like. We don't quote prices, and any number given over the phone is only a rough starting point.
Where we connect you with help
Common questions
Can my landscaper hook up the gas line?
In Fort Collins, only if a licensed plumber or HVAC contractor does that part. The homeowner may also do it under permit.
Can I use a portable wood fire bowl instead?
The city memo covers permanent wood-burning pits. Ask the City of Fort Collins about portable units and current restrictions before you buy one.
Related services
More background: Fort Collins paver patio guide.
Want a patio that shrugs off clay soil and hard freezes?
Call now and a local paver contractor will look at your yard and quote the work.