Outdoor Kitchens in Cambria, CA

Paso Robles Landscaping designs and builds outdoor kitchens for Cambria homes: grill islands, counters and bar seating, sinks and refrigerators, covers, lighting and the patio they sit on. Cambria is unincorporated and in the Coastal Zone, so gas, electrical and plumbing work goes through County of San Luis Obispo permits, and tree and grading rules still apply. We design the kitchen, coordinate the permits and build it, along with the patio, shade and lighting around it. Call 805-712-4440 or request a free estimate.

Built for Wind, Fog and Salt Air

• Wind. Afternoon marine breeze can fight gas burners and blow smoke toward the house. We check which way the wind runs before placing the grill, and we put seating on the sheltered side of the house or under a cover.
• Shade and fog. A patio cover or pergola over the cook station keeps July sun and damp evenings workable. We size it to keep clear space above the grill.
• Materials. Stainless or coated appliances and hardware, sealed stone or concrete counters, and noncombustible bases of stucco, stone or block hold up better in salt air than untreated wood.
• Evenings. Nights cool off fast. Many clients add a fire pit or fire table nearby and low lighting on counters and paths.

County Permits and Coastal Rules

• Utilities. Running a gas line, adding circuits or plumbing a sink means County building permits and inspections. We plan utility routes before the island is built.
• Covers. Most patio covers need a building permit. We prepare the drawings with you.
• Grading. Under County Code 23.05.025, a grading permit is required before grading, excavation or fill that changes drainage, unless an exemption in 23.05.026 applies. Footing excavation authorized by a building permit is often exempt, but not on steep natural slopes.
• Trees. Under County Code 23.05.062, removing a tree in the Coastal Zone generally needs County approval. We route trenches away from major root zones where we can.

Water Scarcity and the Kitchen Area

The Cambria CSD urges customers to avoid turf because supplies are limited. Around an outdoor kitchen we use gravel, rock, permeable joints and low-water planting on drip, so the cook station and dining pad do most of the work without irrigation. See the District's rebate programs and our Cambria hardscape page.

Fire Safety Around the Grill

Parts of Cambria sit in mapped fire hazard zones, and the Fire Department's fuel reduction program keeps combustible material away from structures. We keep grills clear of low pine limbs, use noncombustible counters and bases, and put pavers or concrete under and around the island instead of bark. See fire-safe landscaping in Cambria.

If a pool is part of the plan, we do the master design for the whole backyard and refer you to pool builders we have done whole-yard projects with. You sign a separate contract with the pool builder, and we coordinate the schedule and build everything around the pool: decks, patios, walls, lighting, kitchen and planting.

Cost depends on size, layout, appliances, utilities, the cover and finishes. We give you a written estimate after a site visit; see our outdoor kitchen and Cambria landscaping pages. For the concrete slab under a kitchen or dining area, see concrete flatwork in Cambria.

Nearby Areas We Serve

From Cambria we also work in Cayucos, Morro Bay, Templeton, Paso Robles and San Luis Obispo. See every community on our San Luis Obispo County service area page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a permit for an outdoor kitchen in Cambria?

Usually, if it has gas, electrical or plumbing, or a patio cover. Cambria is unincorporated, so permits come from the County of San Luis Obispo Planning & Building Department. We coordinate them.

Where should the grill go?

Downwind of the dining area and the house, with clear space above it. On the coast the afternoon breeze is a big factor, so we check it on site before placing the grill.

How do you handle Cambria water limits around a kitchen?

We use hardscape for the cook and dining pads and put any planting on drip, or use gravel and rock so the area needs little irrigation. The Cambria CSD urges customers to avoid turf.

Can you add a cover over the kitchen?

Yes. We build patio covers and pergolas sized to shade the cook station while keeping clear space above the grill. Most need a building permit.

How much does an outdoor kitchen cost in Cambria?

It depends on size, layout, appliances, utilities, the cover and finishes. We give a free written estimate after a site visit.