Before you take the final leap on your purchase, you need to double-check your local laws and community guidelines to ensure that your location of choice is compliant. Most communities have a minimum required distance of 10 feet from your home, wooden structures, awnings, trees and other yard fixtures.
Once you've found a level spot that's suitable for your fireplace or pit, ensure that your pit isn't set directly on top of your deck or grass. It's always best to place your pit on top of a stone slab that has enough extra surface area to provide a heat buffer between your grill and surrounding environment.
Finally, you should never keep a fireplace or fire pit in a covered porch or under an overhanging tree. This is especially true if you choose to burn wood as your fuel source. Embers escape from wood fires routinely and can easily land on a roof or ceiling. Gas as a fuel source is best if you are deadest on keeping your pit or fireplace near or in a covered area. Gas flames produce very few - if any - embers that could lead to a risk.