Build · Tulsa area
Fire features.
A place to gather around a fire as the evening cools, planned with the seating, the patio and the fire code distances.
01The problem
What a fire feature is for.
- The seating area needs shade, or you want a place to gather around a fire as the evening cools.
- A portable fire pit keeps scorching the lawn.
- You want seating built around the fire, not chairs dragged across the grass.
- The patio needs a focal point that works in October through March.
What goes under the surface
- 01Fire-rated block
- 02Natural stone cap
- 03Steel or cedar
02Specifics
How it's built.
Tulsa's distances
The Tulsa Fire Department's open burning handout defines a recreational fire as one with a fuel area of 3 feet or less across and 2 feet or less high. Those fires can't be within 25 feet of a structure or combustible material. Portable outdoor fireplaces carry a 15-foot rule, which the handout exempts at one- and two-family homes.
The city says recreational fires don't need an open burning permit on private property. Where a built-in feature falls under these rules depends on its design and fuel, so placement is something we check before setting the scope.
Burn bans
During a City of Tulsa burn ban, outdoor burning is prohibited, including fire pits, chimeneas and outdoor fireplaces. Tulsa County's burn bans prohibit fire pits too. The state's Forestry Services FAQ says a county ban lasts up to 14 days unless renewed. Before lighting a fire in a dry spell, check the city and county.
Gas or wood
Wood fires fall under the fire code distances above. A gas fire feature adds gas piping and an appliance, which Tulsa permits through its mechanical permits, taken out by the gas trade. Either way, the feature itself sits on a compacted base with fire-rated block inside the visible stone.
03How it goes
From photos to finished.
- 01Send photosUse the quote form to send a few photos and tell us what the yard needs. We review the property and the work you want help with.
- 02We call youWe talk through the details and arrange a site visit if needed.
- 03On siteWe look at the distance to the house, fences and trees, the patio or base it sits on, the seating around it, and whether gas is nearby.
- 04A written quoteThe work, inclusions, exclusions and price, in writing, before you decide to go ahead.
04Price
What sets the price.
Every quote is written for the property. These are the things that move it most.
- Wood or gas, and how far the gas line has to run.
- Size and shape of the feature.
- Built-in seat walls around it.
- The block, stone and cap you choose.
- Whether a patio or base is needed under and around it.
05Questions
Common questions.
- How far does a fire pit have to be from my house in Tulsa?
- The Tulsa Fire Department's handout says recreational fires must be at least 25 feet from a structure or combustible material. Portable outdoor fireplaces carry a 15-foot rule, which is exempt at one- and two-family homes.
- Do I need a permit for a backyard fire pit in Tulsa?
- The city says recreational fires on private property don't need an open burning permit. A gas fire feature needs the gas piping permitted through the city's mechanical permits.
- Can I use my fire pit during a burn ban?
- No. City of Tulsa and Tulsa County burn bans both prohibit fire pits. The city allows gas or electric grills over gravel or concrete with an adult attending.
Planning a fire feature?
Send photos of where you'd put it, with the house in the frame. We work in Bixby, Glenpool, Jenks, Sand Springs and Sapulpa.
Sources
- Tulsa Fire Department, Open Burning, Recreational Fires, and Fireworks (PDF)
- City of Tulsa Fire Department, Open burning
- City of Tulsa, burn ban information (October 2024)
- Tulsa County, burn ban resolution (PDF, February 2026)
- Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry, Burn ban FAQ
- City of Tulsa, Mechanical permit request form (PDF)