Things You'll Need

Instructions

1

Check with your city government offices to make sure they allow in ground barbecue pits. If they don't, and you build one anyway, you will probably end up paying a fine.
2

Dig a hole for your pit. Depending on your preference and the amount of food you usually cook, this hole should be somewhere between 3 and 5 feet in diameter. You can make it either circular or square in shape. However, it does need to be at least 2 feet deep. Make sure that the walls of the pit are vertical. Line the bottom of the pit with two inches of gravel.
3

Line the sides of your pit with rocks or firebrick, if you wish. If you choose to do so, start with one layer around the edges of the pit. Spread some mortar on the rocks or bricks and lay on another layer. Smooth the mortar on the exposed side of the rocks or bricks.
4

Lay a ring of rocks or brick around the pit to keep people from falling in. You can continue the rock or brick wall with mortar, or just place big rocks around the pit. This step is vital because an in ground pit is dangerous to people who don't expect it to be there, especially children. Even if you didn't line the inside of your pit, you must place this protective barrier around it for safety.
5

Place a grill rack over the pit so that you can cook on it. You can buy a grill rack at a hardware store, or take one off a discarded pit.