Last Updated: September 2026
An outdoor fireplace or fire pit lets you use your Oyster Bay backyard from early spring well into the fall. Wood-burning gives you the crackle and a real focal point, while gas gives you instant heat with no ash or smoke. A fireplace anchors an outdoor room, a fire pit gathers people in a circle, and a gas fire table works best right beside a dining or lounge area.
A gas fireplace can be convenient, but it’s hard to compete with the natural beauty and inviting crackle of a wood-burning fire. Here’s how to decide what fits your yard, and why so many homeowners add one.
Wood-burning or gas: which outdoor fireplace is right for you?
Both work well in Nassau County backyards. The choice comes down to how you’ll use it.
| Wood-burning | Gas | |
|---|---|---|
| Ambiance | Real crackle, wood smoke and a big, moving flame | Steady, clean flame at the turn of a knob or switch |
| Upkeep | Ash cleanout, a place to store and keep firewood dry, occasional chimney check | Periodic burner and line check, little else |
| Smoke | Can drift toward the house or neighbors depending on wind | Minimal |
| Fuel | Firewood | Natural gas line or a propane tank |
If you picture long nights with the fire going, wood is hard to beat. If you want a fire for 30 minutes after dinner on a weeknight, gas is easier to live with. A natural gas line has to be run by a licensed plumber, so plan it early if the house already has service.
Outdoor fireplace, fire pit or fire table: what’s the difference?
An outdoor fireplace is a tall masonry structure with a firebox and chimney. It sends smoke up and away, blocks wind and gives the yard a clear focal point. It’s also the biggest build of the three.
A fire pit sits low, usually round or square, and people sit all the way around it. It’s more casual and takes less space, and it can burn wood or gas.
A fire table is almost always gas. It stands at coffee-table or dining height with a ledge wide enough for drinks and plates, and it fits on a patio next to your seating without taking over the space.
Why add an outdoor fireplace to your Oyster Bay backyard?
Extend your outdoor season
Spring brings sunny days and warmer temperatures, but it’s still not quite warm enough to sit outside for long. An outdoor fireplace warms up the space and lets you start the season earlier. It also stretches your summer days well into the night, and when your neighbors are packing up their patios in the fall, you’ll still be enjoying crisp nights by the fire.
Create a focal point
Like interior design, good landscape design needs a focal point, something that anchors the yard. A fireplace is one of the few features that does that day and night. By day, the structure draws the eye. After dark, the glow of the fire does. With almost unlimited design options, an outdoor fireplace fits a traditional, modern or natural style landscape design.
Warm up an outdoor room
Just because the sun goes down doesn’t mean you have to move indoors. A fireplace next to your seating area or outdoor kitchen keeps guests comfortable after dark. It makes a pool or hot tub more pleasant too, because you’ll be warmed by the fire when you step out.
Create a gathering space
People are naturally drawn to warmth and crackling flames. Built-in seating, such as low seat walls or masonry benches, defines the space and makes sure there’s always a place to sit. For less permanent seating, there are plenty of comfortable outdoor furniture options.
Add privacy and shelter
A fireplace can screen a neighbor’s view or hide something you’d rather not look at. A large masonry structure also blocks wind. Since a wood-burning fireplace needs a chimney and wood storage, it can be a substantial structure, and adding seat walls around it creates a fully sheltered area.
Where should an outdoor fireplace or fire pit go?
Keep it well away from the house, overhangs, trees, fences and anything else that can burn. Many installers start at 10 feet or more, but the manufacturer’s specs and local code set the real number. Think about the wind, too. On the North Shore, breezes off the harbor can push smoke right back at your seating or into an open window, so orient the fire and seating with that in mind. Finally, place it where you can see it from inside the house. A fireplace you look at all winter earns its keep. If you’re planning the whole yard around it, our landscape design work in Oyster Bay can place the fire and the seating as one plan.
Do you need a permit for a fire pit or outdoor fireplace in Oyster Bay?
It depends on where you are and what you build. Burn rules and permit requirements vary between the Town of Oyster Bay, the incorporated villages and local fire districts, and gas work usually brings its own requirements. Check with the town or your village before you commit to a design.
What materials work for an outdoor fireplace?
Most outdoor fireplaces are built with a concrete block core, a firebrick-lined firebox and a finished face. Natural stone veneer gives you the most texture and ties in well with stone walls and patios. Brick suits colonial and traditional homes. A bluestone or natural stone cap and hearth finishes it off. Unilock, Techo-Bloc and Cambridge also make fireplace and fire pit units that match their pavers, which keeps a new patio and fire feature consistent. You can see more options on our outdoor fireplaces and fire pits page.
FAQ
Is a wood-burning or gas outdoor fireplace better?
Neither is better across the board. Wood-burning gives you the crackle and bigger flame that most people picture, but it means hauling wood and cleaning ash. Gas lights with a switch and leaves no mess, which makes it easier to use on a weeknight. If smoke drifting toward neighbors is a concern on your lot, gas is the safer bet.
How far should a fire pit be from the house?
Many installers start at 10 feet or more from the house, and farther from overhangs, trees and fences. That’s a starting point, not a rule. The manufacturer’s instructions and the local code where you live set the actual clearance, so check both before you pick a spot. Wind direction matters too, because smoke should blow away from windows.
Can you add a fire pit to an existing patio?
Often, yes. A wood fire pit can usually sit on a solid, well-built paver or stone patio with a firebrick-lined or steel-insert pit and a heat-rated base, since sustained heat can crack or discolor pavers and stone. A gas fire table just needs a spot that a gas line or propane tank can reach, with proper clearance.
Thinking about a fireplace or fire pit for your Oyster Bay yard? Request a design consultation and we’ll walk the site with you.
For a real-world example, take a look at Entertaining Paradise, a recent project of ours in Dix Hills, NY.
