Outdoor Pizza Oven Permits: What To Know Before You Build

Families are spending more time than ever at home and exploring new ways to keep to have great experiences right in their back yard.

Portable outdoor pizza ovens are a wonderful option for individuals who don’t want to use them too often or want to take them with them on camping excursions, but a built-in, permanent structure pizza oven is an outdoor chef’s (mine included) backyard dream!

There are many considerations that need to be taken into account when considering the legality of an outdoor pizza oven, including whether or not a permit is needed, house proximity, HOA consideration, etc. So let’s dig into these questions!

Do You Need A Permit For An Outdoor Pizza Oven?

An outdoor pizza oven built on a permanent foundation does not require building permits if it is under 120 square feet in size, has no plumbing or electrical connections, and was manufactured specifically as an outdoor cooking device.

If your proposed structure exceeds these limitations, you may still be able to build without the need for additional permitting depending upon where you live (in a historic district or a conservation area, for example) and whether your local jurisdiction requires you to have a permit.

If you are building a full outdoor kitchen that includes a pizza oven, then you will need to apply for a permit and follow all other residential construction guidelines. If you are building an oven that will be added to your existing outdoor kitchen, then the size of the structure should not matter as long as it is under 120 square feet (if built on its own) or less than 240 square feet if attached to an already permitted structure (like an outdoor kitchen).

If you are located in an area that requires a permit, then it is very important to ensure that your contractor follows the permitting process and submits all proper documentation for review by local planning officials. If they do not follow the correct procedures or omit key information on their application (i.e., square footage), you could be held liable for any mistakes.

No matter what your backyard/building situation is, you should have a professional come out and inspect your yard before building so you can ensure that there are no issues or city, county, or district laws you should know about.

When considering the licensing and permitting process for an outdoor pizza oven, it is important to understand what your local jurisdiction requires as far as permits go (this will help you save time and money during the building process).

It’s also a good idea to reach out to your neighbors or homeowner association board members before you begin building to get a feel for what they may or may not be able to tolerate.

Can You Have A Pizza Oven In Your Yard?

In general, most cities and counties will allow you to build an outdoor pizza oven as long as you have a yard that is at least 120 square feet in size and you have no other backyard structures

The proximity of the oven structure will depend on which state you live in. Some states require that you be at least 50 feet away from your neighbor’s property line while other states require 100 feet of separation.

With the popularity of home outdoor entertainment spaces, it has become much more common to build in tight spaces where there are no setbacks or yard requirements by local housing authorities or homeowner associations.

The best way to find out if you can build in your yard is by taking to your HOA and by hiring a local contractor that will look into the specifics of where and what you want to build. They can then provide guidance as far as backyard building restrictions go so you know exactly how much space, money, and time you’ll need before starting construction.

Just like with using your pellet smoker or BBQ grill, you can use your pizza oven all year long…even in the winter. I cover some important about that over here in this article.

Can HOA’s Restrict Outdoor Pizza Ovens?

Generally, HOA’s should not be able to prevent you from building an outdoor pizza oven in your backyard. However, HOAs may be able to restrict the size of your structure or mandate that certain materials must be used.

Always consult with your neighborhood’s homeowners association before building any structures…this is really the only way to ensure that you are allowed to have a pizza oven in your yard.

Most HOAs will not have any issues with building a pizza oven as long as it does not violate other rules or cause problems for neighbors. Since most communities value outdoor entertainment spaces and eating together as a family, it is most likely that your HOA will be very supportive of building an outdoor pizza oven.

It’s also a good idea to reach out to your neighbors before you begin building so you can make sure that there will not be any issues when you start construction.

How Close Can An Outdoor Pizza Oven Be To A House?

You will want to keep your outdoor pizza oven at least 15 feet away from your house or any structures however, there are no set-in-stone rules regarding how close an outdoor pizza oven can be to a house.

This distance ensures that you will not have any problems with heat, smoke, soot, flames, etc., coming into contact with the building materials of your home.

While 15 feet is a general recommendation…similar distances apply to smokers and grills…you may want to check local regulations to see if they actually do have a set-in-stone distance. Chances are there won’t be any restrictions or regulations that apply in the case of a pizza oven, but it’s always better to be safe than sorry.

As far as where in your yard you should build, well that all depends on the size of your yard and what other structures or features are back there. The recommended 15-foot distance should also apply to other buildings like sheds, treehouses, playsets, and vegetation like trees or bushes.

Does An Outdoor Pizza Oven Need To Have A Chimney?

In general, an outdoor pizza oven does not need a chimney or ventilation system however, having good ventilation on a wood-burning oven is recommended for even cooking and air circulation inside of the oven.

Tilting pizza ovens usually have a little chimney as part of the structure that allows for good airflow and heat to escape, but you can also build your own brick or metal chimney atop an outdoor pizza oven if desired.

With wood-burning outdoor pizza ovens, it is important to have a way to have the smoke and hot air leave the oven so it does not collect inside. This will help with cooking time, heat distribution, and overall efficiency.

If you are using a commercial pizza oven or another type of gas-burning outdoor pizza oven then this is usually not necessary as these types of grills do not produce much in terms of fumes or heat.

Final Thoughts

There should certainly be a hierarchy of approval when it comes to building an outdoor pizza oven:

• First – Make sure you and your family really want one and that you’ll get adequate use out of it. Built-in pizza ovens can set you back a pretty penny, so consider if a portable pizza oven would suit your family better…I have some suggestions to get you started in the green frame below.
  
• Second – Ensure that there are no city or country permits that need to be filed. I put this one above HOA’s since a Homeowners Association is mainly looking out for aesthetics and “curb appeal.” If the city has put in a permit requirement then it is because there are some safety concerns that they have…so check with them before building anything.
  
• Third – Get approval from your HOA…I know it seems like they can sometimes overstep and can feel like a nuisance, but an HOA really does serve a good purpose. It’s always a great idea to be in good standing with the members of your community, so if they have any requirements, suggestions or restrictions then be a good neighbor and follow them.

If all that checks out then go ahead and build your outdoor pizza oven! It’s a great way to get the family outside cooking together!