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Outdoor kitchens take between four and six weeks to build. Each space is different—some may take less time if proper flooring or other structures are already in place, while others may require more extensive labor. This timeline also doesn’t account for design and administrative tasks, such as permit applications.

Winterizing or weatherproofing your outdoor kitchen protects it from harsh environmental elements, such as wind, rain, snow, frost, and UV rays. Design your kitchen with weather-resistant materials, such as granite countertops and rust-resistant metals, according to your climate. Overhead enclosures also minimize exposure to precipitation and severe conditions.

An outdoor kitchen can be next to your home and helps reduce costs for running plumbing and gas lines. Regulations may require combustible materials to be 10 feet or more away from the home to minimize fire hazards. That includes grills, griddles, and pizza ovens.

Outlets are optional for outdoor kitchens depending on your chosen grill, cooking appliances, and other features. Electrical codes usually require outdoor kitchen outlets to be ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) devices because they’re exposed to weather elements. Even lighting and other hardwired fixtures may need to be connected to a GFCI circuit breaker.