Outdoor Fireplace Design Criteria

Placement of an Outdoor Fireplace

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Zoning guidelines vary from city to city, but most restrict how close you can construct a fireplace to the existing home, and have side and rear property line setback guidelines. Additionally, many communities have even more rules with regards to slope setbacks and height restrictions of taller structures on view lots. Be sure and check with the local City Planning Office to confirm acceptable locations of your outdoor structure before you get too far along on your designs.

Backyard Fireplaces The Green Scene Canoga Park, CA
The Green Scene in Canoga Park, CA

I like to break up outdoor garden space into "rooms" or "zones" for entertainment and the outdoor "Living room" is where I typically situate my fireplace structure. Consider views from the house, focal points, privacy, screening and prevailing wind (direction that wind blows from most often) when deciding where to set this large permanent structure. I think of the fireplace as an "anchor" for the outdoor living room. Keep in mind that this large structure will alter the flow of traffic thru the garden areas, so design accordingly.

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Place fireplaces in a focal point, but do not block city or mountain views.

Use the height of a large fireplace to help screen prevailing winds.

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