Outdoor Kitchens in West Palm Beach, FL

Outdoor kitchens in West Palm Beach get used more than almost anywhere in the country, because the weather allows it. The city sits on the Lake Worth Lagoon, carries a tropical rainforest climate (Köppen Af) and lies in USDA hardiness zone 10b, so a backyard grill station here is not a summer-only feature. It is a second kitchen that sees use in January as much as in July. That year-round use is exactly why material choices, drainage and anchoring matter more here than in a catalog photo.

What the local climate asks of an outdoor kitchen

Average annual rainfall in West Palm Beach is about 61.75 inches, and most of it falls in the hot, humid wet season from May through October. Late in that season, tropical storms and hurricanes are possible. Frances, Jeanne and Wilma in 2004 and 2005 all caused property damage and long power outages across the city. For an outdoor kitchen, that means a few practical rules we follow on every design:

• Cabinet bases and appliance cutouts that drain instead of holding water
• Countertop surfaces chosen for strong sun and frequent soaking, not only for looks
• Marine-grade stainless hardware and doors where lagoon air reaches the yard
• Islands built on a proper slab or footing and fastened so they stay put in high wind
• Covers, pergolas and roof structures designed with wind loads in mind from the start

Historic neighborhoods, newer backyards

West Palm Beach was incorporated as a town on November 5, 1894, and as a city on July 21, 1903, which makes it the oldest incorporated municipality in South Florida. Its historic districts are a big part of its housing stock: Flamingo Park, where most homes were built from 1921 to 1930; El Cid, known for Mediterranean Revival and Mission-style homes; Grandview Heights, with many early Craftsman bungalows; plus Old Northwood, Northwood Hills, Central Park, Prospect Park, Mango Promenade, Bel Air, Northboro Park, West Northwood and Northwest. A backyard kitchen behind a 1920s house is usually out of sight from the street, but any structure that shows, such as a pergola roofline or a new wall, can bring design review in a historic district. We plan the layout so it suits the house, and we tell you early if city review is likely.

The services we build here

• Custom outdoor kitchens: full layouts with grill, side burners, sink, refrigeration and prep space
• Countertops: surfaces picked for UV exposure, heat from the grill and summer rain
• Grill islands and BBQ stations: compact or long-run islands for smaller city lots and larger lots alike
• Outdoor kitchen cabinets: weather-rated doors and boxes that hold up to humidity
• Covered kitchens and pergolas: shade and rain cover so you can cook through an afternoon storm
• Remodels and upgrades: replacing rusted doors, cracked tops or tired grills on an existing island

Permits for gas, electric and plumbing

A counter and a freestanding grill are one thing. Running a gas line, adding outlets, wiring lights or plumbing a sink is another, and that work typically needs permits and inspections under the Florida Building Code. We include the permit path in the written scope so you know which parts need sign-off and in what order the inspections happen. If your home is in an HOA community, we can also prepare drawings and a materials list for the association's approval before any work starts.

Ownership and how long people stay

About half of West Palm Beach homes, 50.5%, are owner-occupied, and 84.7% of residents lived in the same house a year earlier, according to Census estimates. For owners who plan to stay, an outdoor kitchen is a long-term part of the house, so we build it to be serviced: access panels to gas valves, shutoffs you can reach and appliances that can be replaced without tearing out the island.

Start with a free estimate

Call (561) 304-8278 or send a few photos of your yard. We visit, measure, ask how you cook and who you cook for, and hand you a written quote that lists materials, appliances and any permit work.

Get a Free Estimate