Outdoor kitchens in Sarasota

Yes. Creative Edge Outdoor Living has built several outdoor kitchens under lanai roofs, some with a vent hood over the grill. The grill's own manual sets how close it can sit to a wall or ceiling, so tell us which grill you have in mind when you call.

An outdoor kitchen can hold up to salt air if its stainless steel is a grade suited to the coast. FEMA's guidance for coastal building says salt spray "declines rapidly in the first 300 to 3,000 feet landward of the shoreline", but that "studies have shown accelerated corrosion rates as far inland as 5 to 10 miles", and that "In coastal applications, stainless steel should be Type 304 or Type 316. Type 316 is more resistant to corrosion" (FEMA Technical Bulletin 8). Type 316 contains molybdenum, which is "particularly helpful in preventing chloride damage" (International Molybdenum Association). On a waterfront or island lot the grade matters most, so ask about the grade of any grill, door or drawer that goes into your kitchen.

Either works in an outdoor kitchen, and the choice usually comes down to what your house already has. Natural gas needs a line from the utility. Propane runs from a tank that is refilled or swapped. Tell us which one you have and where the meter or tank sits.

Before a hurricane, clear everything loose from around your outdoor kitchen. Federal hurricane guidance says to secure grills and outdoor furniture or move them inside (Ready.gov). A built-in island cannot be moved, so the list is what sits around it: stools, cushions and cart grills. Planning a kitchen? Tell us where it goes and we will talk through what stays out in a storm.

Yes, if the kitchen has gas, electrical or plumbing work, and most do. The City of Sarasota requires a permit to "erect, install, enlarge, alter, repair, remove, convert or replace any required impact-resistant coverings, electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing system" (permit guideline 105.1). Manatee County's list of work that needs a permit includes "Natural Gas Line install", "Propane Tank install", "Any alteration of electrical" and "Concrete slab with footers" (Manatee County Building Division). Florida's new exemption for work valued at less than $7,500 does not change this: the statute excludes "Any electrical, plumbing, structural, mechanical, or gas work" and "Work on a property that is partially or entirely located in a flood hazard area" (s. 553.79(1)(g), F.S.). Which office issues the permit depends on your address: the City of Sarasota, Sarasota County, Manatee County, the City of Bradenton or one of the island cities. Our guide, Do you need a permit for an outdoor kitchen in Sarasota or Manatee County?, lists each office with its phone number. Confirm with the office for your address before you build.

Usually, yes, if your home is in a deed-restricted community: the association reviews exterior work before you apply for a permit. In Lakewood Ranch, for example, the Country Club/Edgewater Village Association homeowners manual says a "Modification Request Form is required for all exterior construction" (Country Club/Edgewater Village Association manual, 2022), and the Summerfield and Riverwalk manual says "Upon receipt of written approval, a homeowner may proceed with filing for building permits, if applicable" (Summerfield/Riverwalk manual). Some communities also set where a kitchen can go: the design standards for Esplanade at Lakewood Ranch say "Outdoor kitchens must be contained inside the lanai" (Esplanade Community Design Standards, 2023). The manuals we read may not be the latest editions, so ask your association for its current standards before you settle on a design, and send them to us with your estimate request.

The price of an outdoor kitchen depends most on its size, its finish and its appliances. A straight grill island is a smaller job than a U-shaped kitchen with a hood. Call 941-879-4777 or send the form with photos.