Outdoor Kitchens in Nipomo, CA

Paso Robles Landscaping designs and builds outdoor kitchens for Nipomo homes, from Blacklake, The Woodlands and Cypress Ridge on the Mesa to larger lots in the hills east of Highway 101: grill islands, bar and prep counters, sinks, refrigerators, side burners, pizza ovens, shade covers and the patio around them. Nipomo is unincorporated, so permits for the gas, electrical and plumbing come from County Planning & Building, and most planned communities add their own design approval. Call 805-712-4440 or request a free estimate.

Wind Decides Where the Grill Goes

Steady afternoon wind off the ocean is the defining feature of the Mesa. It blows out burners, pushes smoke into the seating and cools food on the plate. We set the cook station on the lee side of the house or a wall, turn the grill so the wind carries smoke away from guests, and add a backsplash or a raised bar ledge on the windward side. A tall fence, a hedge or a glass screen can shelter the whole kitchen, and a solid-roof patio cover keeps the fog drip and the midday sun off the counters. For cool evenings, a gas fire feature or heaters next to the dining area keep people outside.

Built for Sand and Marine Air

• Footings. Mesa soil is old dune sand that drains fast and shifts. We set the island on a reinforced slab or footings over a base compacted in layers, so counter joints don't crack and the grill stays level.
• Materials. Marine air and fog are hard on cheap steel. We specify 304 stainless or better for grills, doors and drawers, sealed stone or porcelain counters, and powder-coated or stainless hardware.
• Covers. Patio covers and pergolas are anchored and braced for the wind, with clearance and venting above the grill per the manufacturer.
• Drainage. Patios slope away from the house, and sandy lots usually take runoff into gravel or planted areas without any trouble.

County Permits for Nipomo Kitchens

County Code 19.02.020 exempts counter tops and similar finish work from a building permit, but that doesn't cover what makes a kitchen work:

• Gas. A natural gas line where it's available, or a permanent propane supply on rural parcels, needs a permit and inspection.
• Electrical. New circuits for refrigerators, lights and outlets need a permit, with GFCI protection and weatherproof boxes.
• Plumbing. A sink needs a water supply and a drain to the house sewer or septic system. Some Nipomo neighborhoods are on community sewer and others on septic, and on septic lots we keep the island, trenches and footings clear of the tank and leach field. We confirm per lot.
• Covers. The County adopted the building code appendix for patio covers, and a cover over a kitchen generally needs a building permit and drawings.

We prepare the drawings, apply for the permits and schedule the inspections. If you're adding a pizza oven or a built-in fireplace, we follow the listed clearances for the unit and confirm with the County during plan check.

HOA Approval in Blacklake, The Woodlands and Cypress Ridge

Planned communities on the Mesa have architectural committees that approve structures, materials and colors before work starts. Send us your guidelines at the first meeting; we draw the kitchen, cover and patio to them and prepare the submittal package. Kitchens facing a golf course often have extra rules about height and lighting, so we plan low, shielded lighting from the start.

What a Nipomo Kitchen Usually Includes

• A grill island with a landing counter on each side, and a prep zone with a sink if plumbing is practical
• Refrigerator, storage drawers and a trash pull-out, so trips to the house are rare
• A bar ledge or dining table under a cover, with heaters or a fire feature nearby
• A paver, concrete or flagstone patio, plus low-water planting on drip that stays inside the County's water limits for the Nipomo Mesa Water Conservation Area (County Code 22.98.070) when a project triggers them

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, appliances, counters, the length of the gas, power and water runs, any cover and the patio. We give you a written estimate after a site visit; see our outdoor kitchens, Nipomo outdoor living and Nipomo water features pages, and our Nipomo and Blacklake, Woodlands and Cypress Ridge landscaping pages.

Nearby Areas We Serve

From Nipomo we also work in Arroyo Grande, Oceano, Grover Beach, Los Ranchos and Edna Valley and Pismo Beach. See every community on our San Luis Obispo County service area page. For ponding, retention basins and wet-season fixes, see yard drainage in Nipomo. For driveways, walks and slabs on Mesa sand under County road, fire access and NCSD rules, see concrete flatwork in Nipomo. For walls and terraces on Mesa sand under County permit rules, see retaining walls in Nipomo. For patio surfaces, covers and the County and NCSD rules around them, see patios in Nipomo. For drip, smart controllers and the County and NCSD watering rules, see irrigation in Nipomo.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Usually, if it has gas, electrical or plumbing, or a patio cover. Nipomo is unincorporated, so permits come from County Planning and Building. Counter tops and similar finish work alone are exempt. We prepare the drawings and handle the permits.

How do you deal with the wind on the Mesa?

We place the grill on the sheltered side of the house or a wall, turn it so smoke blows away from the seating, add a backsplash or bar ledge on the windward side, and use fences, hedges or a solid cover as windbreaks.

Will salt air ruin the appliances?

Marine air is hard on low-grade steel, so we specify 304 stainless or better, sealed counters and corrosion-resistant hardware, and we show you how to keep them clean.

Does my HOA need to approve the kitchen?

In Blacklake, The Woodlands and Cypress Ridge, the architectural committee typically approves structures, materials and colors. We prepare drawings for the submittal.

How much does an outdoor kitchen cost in Nipomo?

It depends on size, appliances, counters, utility runs, any cover and the patio. We give a free written estimate after a site visit.