An outdoor fireplace gets used in October and April, not just July. It is also where people make expensive mistakes: a wood unit the town will not permit, a propane fireplace that wants a tank size the city will not allow, or a linear burner that blows out every time the wind shifts. We have installed outdoor fireplaces across Queens, Long Island, Westchester, New Jersey and the Palm Beach coast for over 30 years. This is what we walk every customer through before they pick a model.
The short answer
For most homes in our area, a natural gas outdoor fireplace is the right call: no permit fight over wood smoke, no tank to swap, and you can run it under a covered patio if the manufacturer's ceiling clearance is met. Go linear if the space is modern and you want a wide ribbon of flame; go traditional if you want a real log look and more radiant heat. Choose wood only if you are outside the five boroughs, your town allows recreational fires, and you genuinely want to haul and split logs. Near the water, pay for 316 stainless or a concrete body.
Key takeaways
- Natural gas is the default in our area: no smoke permit, no tank, and it runs under a covered patio when the ceiling clearance is met.
- Wood is off the table inside the five boroughs. Outside the city, your town sets the rules, and we check before quoting.
- Linear units need a wider wall and a wind guard. Traditional units throw more heat forward and fit a narrower chase.
- Outdoor "vent-free" units are listed to ANSI Z21.97 for outdoor use. They are not the indoor ventless heaters NYC prohibits.
- A 60,000 BTU fireplace plus a grill can outgrow a half inch gas line. Size the line for the whole patio and run electrical in the same trench.
- Within a few miles of salt water, choose 316 stainless, a concrete body, or a unit that lives behind glass in a chase.
In this guide
- Gas, wood or electric: which is right for your patio?
- What does "outdoor rated" mean on a gas fireplace?
- Linear or traditional?
- Can I have a wood-burning outdoor fireplace where I live?
- When does an outdoor electric fireplace make sense?
- What clearances and ceiling height do I need?
- What gas line do I need, and can I run propane?
- Which materials survive salt air?
- How do I finish it and care for it off season?
- Our recommended models
- Which should you choose?
- Frequently asked questions
Gas, wood or electric: which is right for your patio?
Gas is the default for a reason: it lights with a switch, makes no smoke, and the better units carry 60,000 BTU or more, which is real heat on a cool night. Wood gives you crackle and smell, but also a chimney, a hearth extension, ash, and a conversation with your building department. Electric gives you the look with zero combustion, which matters on a balcony or rooftop where nobody will approve a flame.
| Factor | Gas | Wood | Electric |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heat | Strong. 28,000 to 75,000+ BTU depending on model | Strongest radiant heat, but uneven and smoky | Light. Roughly 5,000 BTU on 120V, more on 240V |
| NYC five boroughs | Natural gas through a licensed master plumber; propane is tightly limited | Not an option. Open fires are prohibited | No combustion, so no Fuel Gas Code issue; board approval still applies |
| Covered patio | Yes, with manufacturer ceiling clearance | Only with a full chimney system through the roof | Yes, and most units require cover |
| Upkeep | Annual service, keep the burner dry | Ash removal, chimney cleaning, firewood storage | Almost none |
| Best for | Most patios and outdoor kitchens | Larger suburban lots where fires are permitted | Balconies, rooftops, screened porches |
Be honest about use. "A few evenings a week in the shoulder seasons" is a gas fireplace. "A bonfire with the kids twice a month" is a fire pit, at a fraction of the install.
What does "outdoor rated" mean on a gas fireplace?
Almost every outdoor gas fireplace we sell is listed to ANSI Z21.97, the standard for outdoor decorative gas appliances. That is a different listing than an indoor direct vent fireplace and different again from an indoor vent-free heater. The unit is built to live in weather, needs no chimney, and is not allowed inside a building, garage or enclosed porch. Superior's manual for its VRE4600 linear series says it plainly: outdoor only, though a covered patio qualifies if it meets the open-air criteria.
You will see "vent-free" in model names, including the Superior, the Majestic Lanai and Montigo's Mahana. Do not confuse that with indoor ventless. Indoor vent-free gas fireplaces cannot be installed in New York City under the NYC Fuel Gas Code, and we tell every customer who asks. The outdoor units carry the outdoor decorative listing instead, and the gas piping that feeds them in the five boroughs still has to be run by a licensed master plumber and inspected under the Fuel Gas Code. We confirm the approval path for your address before you order; co-op and condo boards add their own layer.
A second family has a chimney: precast concrete fireplaces like the American Fyre Designs Phoenix, a 63 inch wide, 84 inch tall, 900 pound piece of glass fiber reinforced concrete with a refractory firebox, a 75,000 BTU G45 stainless burner and 18 inch charred oak logs. It bolts together on site, needs no framing, and reads like masonry from across the yard. AFD also makes a linear version, the Milan.
The numbers we quote most:
- Napoleon Riverside 42: 60,000 BTU on natural gas, 42 by 33 inch viewing area, clean-face traditional look with brick panel options. The Riverside 36 is 50,000 BTU.
- Napoleon Galaxy linear: Napoleon rates the Galaxy 48 up to 55,000 BTU with a 47.5 by 16.5 inch viewing area, brushed stainless exterior, 304 stainless burner chassis, electronic ignition with remote, an LED light strip, and a glass wind deflector in the box. We stock the 50, 62 and 74 inch sizes.
- Superior VRE4672: 65,000 BTU high and 42,000 BTU low on natural gas, 72 by 16 inch opening, electronic ignition, full-color interior LED lighting, and five bags of crushed glass included. Also available in 60 and 48 inch widths.
- Montigo Mahana 42: 28,000 BTU, a 304 stainless body, hot surface ignition with flame-loss shutdown, rated for operation down to 40 below zero, and a glass front with a safety screen. It needs a GFCI outlet within three feet of the control box.
Linear or traditional?
A linear outdoor fireplace is wide and short, usually about 16 inches of opening height across 48 to 72 inches, burning through crushed glass or stones. It sits low in a wall, pairs with a TV niche or a bar, and looks right beside a modern outdoor kitchen. Traditional units like the Riverside are taller than wide, show a log set, and throw more heat forward because the firebox is deeper and the flame sits higher.
Two practical differences. A linear burner under a glass bed is more exposed to wind, which is why Napoleon ships the Galaxy with a glass wind deflector and Superior requires its tempered glass windshields in place whenever the VRE4600 runs. If your patio takes a steady breeze off the water, plan a wind guard from day one. And a linear needs a wider wall: a 72 inch unit frames at 76 and a half inches, and you want a few feet of finished wall on each side. A 42 inch traditional unit lives in a 49 inch chase and still looks proportional.
For flexibility, The Outdoor GreatRoom Company's ready-to-finish linear fireplace is a framed steel box with a Crystal Fire Plus burner that your mason finishes in stone or stucco. The see-through version works as a divider between dining and lounge areas.
From our install team
Superior requires the VRE4600 enclosure to be framed in metal studs, not wood, with 18 square inches of cross ventilation on each side, three to four inches off the floor. Skipping those vents can void the warranty. Have your contractor read the manual before the chase goes up, not after the stone is on.
Can I have a wood-burning outdoor fireplace where I live?
Start with where you live. Inside the five boroughs, the Fire Code prohibits open fires, portable wood-burning fire pits are treated as open fires, and Local Law 38 of 2015 ended new wood-burning fireplace installations in the city. If your address is in Queens, Brooklyn, the Bronx, Manhattan or Staten Island, skip this section. On Long Island, in Westchester and across New Jersey, rules are set town by town: many allow recreational fires with distance and size limits, some require a permit, a few prohibit them. We check with your municipality before quoting a wood unit.
If you are clear to burn, a prefab outdoor wood fireplace is a better build than masonry for most yards. Majestic's outdoor wood line comes in three looks: the Villawood (open hearth, stainless construction, 36 or 42 inch), the Castlewood with bi-fold glass doors, and the Cottagewood with a 42 by 28 and a half inch opening. These are steel fireboxes you frame into a chase, finish in stone or stucco, and vent with a factory chimney system.
The numbers that drive your layout on the Cottagewood 42, from the architect guide: a hearth extension of 20 inches in front and 12 inches to each side, 24 inches to a combustible side wall, and 7 feet minimum from the base of the fireplace to any ceiling. The Villawood manual calls for a half inch air space to the back and sides and 84 inches from base to ceiling. Under a roof, the chimney goes through that roof with proper flashing and a cap. Majestic sells a drain pan for the Villawood so rain in the open firebox has somewhere to go. For wood without the chase, the Napoleon Timberwolf smokeless fire pit is the simpler route where recreational fires are allowed.
When does an outdoor electric fireplace make sense?
An outdoor electric fireplace is the only flame-look option for many New York addresses: a co-op terrace, a rooftop, a screened porch, a balcony where the board will not entertain gas. Read the rating carefully, because "outdoor" varies by brand. Dimplex rates the IgniteXL 60 for covered exterior installation only, and the warranty drops from five years indoors to one year outdoors. It is just under 6 inches deep, hardwired at 120 or 240 volts, and puts out roughly 5,100 or 8,500 BTU depending on voltage, with heat exiting the top. Amantii's Panorama Deep XT is rated indoor or outdoor with a 1,500 watt heater, and the warranty requires you to follow Amantii's outdoor installation guide. SimpliFire's Forum and the Modern Flames Orion V2 round out the group.
None of these warm a patio the way a 60,000 BTU gas unit does. They are ambiance with a little heat. Pair one with a gas patio heater or an electric infrared heater overhead if you want to sit outside in November.
What clearances and ceiling height do I need?
Every outdoor fireplace manual has a clearance page, and the numbers vary more than people expect. A few examples from units we install regularly:
- Superior VRE4672: 6 inches to a combustible side wall and 46 and a half inches from the unit to a combustible ceiling. It must sit on a flat, level, non-combustible surface (or one layer of half inch cement board over a combustible deck) and never below grade.
- Montigo Mahana 42: 36 inches from the opening to any ceiling, 6 inches to a perpendicular side wall, 36 inches from the front of the screen to combustibles, and 12 inches to grade where the unit or framing meets the ground or snow can pile up.
- Majestic Cottagewood 42 (wood): 7 feet from the base of the fireplace to a ceiling, 24 inches to a combustible side wall, and the hearth extension noted above.
For a covered patio, that means a gas linear under a typical 9 or 10 foot porch ceiling is usually fine, since the unit sits a couple of feet off the deck and the ceiling clearance lands under 4 feet. A solid-roof pergola at 7 feet is a problem for anything with real BTU, and a wood unit under any roof needs its chimney through that roof. We also look at where the heat plume drifts: a gas fireplace with a bedroom window directly above it is a layout we will talk you out of. For a freestanding piece like the Phoenix, leave room on all sides to finish and service it, keep the opening pointed away from siding, fences and overhanging trees, and start seating at least 3 feet back from the glass on the high BTU linears.
Not sure what fits your space? Send us a few photos and rough dimensions of the patio, including ceiling height if it is covered, and we will tell you which units clear and which do not. Book a free design consultation and we will help you narrow it down.
What gas line do I need, and can I run propane?
A 60,000 BTU fireplace is a big appliance. Add a 60,000 BTU grill, a side burner and a fire table, and the half inch line your plumber ran to the old grill is nowhere near enough. Sizing depends on total BTU load, pipe length, pipe material and inlet pressure, and it is done by the person pulling the permit. In New York City that is a licensed master plumber working under the NYC Fuel Gas Code, with the piping inspected and tested. Elsewhere the licensing differs; the math does not. Montigo, for example, wants 5.5 inches of water column minimum inlet pressure on natural gas and 11 inches on propane for the Mahana. Undersize the line and you get a lazy flame and nuisance shutdowns.
Propane is where city customers hit a wall. NYC Department of Buildings guidance spells it out: a one or two family home may use a propane grill with no more than two 20 pound tanks, and a multiple dwelling cannot store a standard propane barbecue on a balcony, roof, rear yard or courtyard at all. A fireplace is far hungrier than a grill; Superior's manual wants a propane tank of at least 100 pounds for the VRE4672. That is not happening on a Brooklyn deck. In the five boroughs, plan on natural gas.
Outside the city, propane is fine on most units, but confirm whether the model converts in the field or ships fuel-specific. The Superior VRE4600 converts with a kit installed by a service tech. The Montigo Mahana does not convert; you order it as natural gas or propane. Napoleon offers a conversion kit for the Galaxy. Most outdoor gas log sets are fuel-specific as well.
From our install team
Run electrical at the same time as gas. The Montigo needs a GFCI receptacle within 3 feet of its control box. The Superior runs its ignition on a 7.5 volt adapter and its LEDs on a 12 volt adapter. Even match-lit units benefit from a nearby outlet for lighting and a future remote. Trenching twice costs more than trenching once.
Which materials survive salt air?
We sell a lot of outdoor fireplaces within a mile of salt water: the North Shore, the South Shore, the Jersey Shore, and the Jupiter to Stuart stretch in Florida. Most outdoor fireplaces and burners are 304 stainless, which is fine inland. Marine grade 316 adds 2 to 2.5 percent molybdenum, which resists the chloride pitting that shows up as brown "tea staining" on 304 near the ocean. A common rule of thumb in the metals trade is 304 beyond about 5 miles from salt water and 316 within it, and 316 anywhere near a saltwater pool.
When the fireplace you want is 304, you have three moves. Pick a unit where the body is protected: the Montigo Mahana is 304 throughout but sits behind glass inside a finished chase, so only the face sees weather. Go concrete: the American Fyre Designs line is glass fiber reinforced concrete with a stainless burner inside, and the body does not care about salt. Or cover it religiously; Napoleon's stainless cover for the Galaxy and the weather cover Superior recommends for the VRE4600 exist for this reason. Galvanized steel shows up in some chases and cheaper fireboxes; fine behind stone, not exposed on the coast. Ask what the firebox, burner and trim are each made of, because they are often three different materials.
How do I finish it and care for it off season?
Built-in gas units are finished after they are set. Stone veneer, stucco, large format porcelain and brick all work over a properly built chase. Read the manual for what can touch the unit: Montigo allows combustible facing on the Mahana as long as it does not extend past the opening, while other units call for non-combustible material within a set distance of the glass. On the Cottagewood, the architect guide limits decorative facing standoff to 1 and a half inches and requires a non-combustible hearth extension. Where the fireplace, the grill island and a bar share one run of veneer, plan the whole wall at once so the stone courses line up.
Off-season care is simple but not optional:
- Cover it. Every manufacturer says so. Remove any combustible cover before lighting.
- Dry it out after heavy rain. Superior's manual says to run the VRE4600 for at least 30 minutes to dry the burner and media.
- Keep the drain working. Montigo requires a drainage plan for every install, and Majestic sells a drain pan for the Villawood.
- Replace fire glass that has gone cloudy or clumped with soot, and clean the glass front with a non-abrasive cleaner.
- Book annual service. Montigo requires it under warranty, and on a unit that lives outside we would do it on every brand.
Outdoor FireplacesOutdoor LinearOutdoor Wood BurningOutdoor ElectricOutdoor Gas LogsFire Pit Tables
Our recommended models
Eight units we install and service regularly, chosen for the spaces we see most: a covered suburban patio, a city terrace, a lot by the water.
Gas
Wood and precast concrete
Electric
Which should you choose?
Choose gas if:
- You want real heat, a switch or remote, and no smoke conversation with the town.
- The patio is covered and the ceiling clears the manufacturer's number.
- You are anywhere in the five boroughs, where a natural gas line is the only practical fuel.
Choose wood if:
- You live outside the city and your town allows recreational fires.
- You want the crackle and smell and will store and split firewood.
- There is room for a chase, a hearth extension and a chimney through any roof.
Choose electric if:
- You are on a balcony, rooftop or screened porch where no flame will be approved.
- Ambiance matters more than heat, or you will add a patio heater overhead.
- You have a covered spot and a 120 or 240 volt circuit.
For nearly every patio we work on from Queens to Jupiter, a natural gas outdoor fireplace is the right answer. Pick a traditional unit like the Riverside 42 when heat and a log look matter, and a linear like the Galaxy or VRE4600 when the wall is modern and wide. Wood only makes sense on a suburban lot that permits it, and electric only when no flame will be approved.
Frequently asked questions
Can I put an outdoor gas fireplace under a covered patio?
Usually, yes. Outdoor-listed gas fireplaces can go under a roof as long as the area stays open to the air and the manufacturer's ceiling clearance is met: 46 and a half inches to a combustible ceiling on the Superior VRE4672, 36 inches from the opening on the Montigo Mahana. Enclose the space and it becomes a room, where the appliance is no longer allowed.
Are outdoor wood-burning fireplaces legal in NYC?
No. The Fire Code prohibits open fires in the five boroughs, portable wood fire pits are treated as open fires, and Local Law 38 of 2015 ended new wood-burning fireplace installations in the city. Long Island, Westchester and New Jersey towns each set their own rules on recreational fires, and we check before quoting a wood unit.
What does vent-free mean on an outdoor fireplace?
It means no chimney or vent pipe is needed. Outdoor units like the Majestic Lanai, Superior VRE4600 and Montigo Mahana are listed to ANSI Z21.97 as outdoor decorative gas appliances, a different category from indoor vent-free fireplaces, which cannot be installed in New York City. The gas work in the city still requires a licensed master plumber, and we confirm the approval path for your address before you order.
Can I run an outdoor fireplace on propane in the city?
Not realistically. NYC limits a one or two family home to two 20 pound propane tanks for a grill and bars standard propane barbecues on balconies, roofs and rear yards of multiple dwellings. A fireplace burns far more gas than a grill; Superior wants a tank of at least 100 pounds for its 72 inch linear. In the five boroughs, plan on natural gas.
How much heat does an outdoor fireplace put out?
Gas units range from about 28,000 BTU on the Montigo Mahana 42 to 60,000 BTU on the Napoleon Riverside 42, 65,000 BTU on the Superior VRE4672 and 75,000 BTU on the American Fyre Designs Phoenix. Outdoor electric fireplaces are closer to 5,000 BTU on 120 volts, which is ambiance, not patio heat.
Do I need 316 stainless near the beach?
Within a few miles of salt water, yes, or choose a concrete body like American Fyre Designs with the burner protected inside. Most outdoor fireplaces use 304 stainless, which will tea stain and pit in salt air over time; 316 adds molybdenum and resists chlorides far better. Covering the unit when it is not in use matters as much as the grade.
Talk to a specialist
Let's pick the outdoor fireplace your patio can actually support
We have been designing, selling, installing and servicing fire features and outdoor kitchens for over 30 years across New York City, Long Island, Westchester, New Jersey and South Florida. Bring us photos, dimensions and your address, and we will tell you which units clear your ceiling, what the gas line needs, and whether your town will sign off.
Book a free consultationCall 718-326-4328Showroom: 58-30 Maspeth Ave, Maspeth, Queens.
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Written by the NYC Fireplaces & Outdoor Kitchens team. Last reviewed October 2026. We sell, install and service the products discussed here.
Sources:Napoleon Riverside series, Napoleon Galaxy 48, Majestic Villawood, Majestic Cottagewood 42 architect guide, NYC Department of Buildings barbecue and propane guidance, 304 vs. 316 stainless reference. Superior VRE4600, Montigo Mahana, American Fyre Designs Phoenix, Dimplex IgniteXL and Amantii Panorama figures are from the manufacturers' published specification sheets and installation manuals. Specifications change; always confirm with the manufacturer's current installation manual.