Cicarelli Contractors is an outdoor kitchen contractor for Bay Area backyards, building BBQ islands, built-in grills and covered cooking areas on paver patios. We plan the kitchen with the patio, the cover and the seating, and the gas, electrical and water lines are run under their own permits before anything is built over them.
Outdoor kitchens
An outdoor kitchen is a cooking area built into the yard: at its simplest, a BBQ island with a built-in grill and counter space; at its largest, a covered kitchen with a sink, refrigerator, storage and seating. Each piece sits on the patio base, so the island and the pavers around it stay level together.
The utilities decide the layout. Gas for the grill, power for lights, outlets and a refrigerator, and water for a sink all run under the patio, so they are planned and installed under their own permits before the pavers go down. Placing the kitchen near the house usually shortens those runs.
Outdoor kitchens go in with the rest of the yard: a paver patio underneath, a pergola or cover above and often a fire pit nearby. Our outdoor kitchens serve backyards from San Francisco and Oakland to San Jose and Walnut Creek.
Six Google reviews quoted word for word about our backyard work and crews. None mentions an outdoor kitchen by name yet. Swipe or use the arrows.
Athalyson did great work at my house and backyard. Very happy with the result. Highly recommend.
We had a good experience with the company, the team was professional and made us feel confident about it. The job was done on time. Definetely would recomend their services!
Amanzing job, great people that talked to me. I recommend this company
Excellent job and ZERO complaint. The project was done on time.
Very professional. It was explained what was going to be done.
They were done in 4 days. Other companies gave us a time limit of 2 weeks. Hard workers. We will use this company again. We need more work done.
The team exhibited exceptional performance, demonstrated effective communication, and displayed a commendable work ethic.
Outdoor living on video
We have not filmed an outdoor kitchen build yet. These clips show a Vacaville yard turned into an outdoor living space and the site work our crews do in San Ramon, Fremont and Walnut Creek before new patios go in.
Watch On YouTubePlanning the kitchen
A few decisions shape the whole project. These are the ones that save money when made early, and the mistakes that cost the most later.
The kitchen sits on a patio; see how our paver patios are built.
Outdoor kitchen step by step
Utilities and the base go in first, so nothing has to be torn up to add a line later.
Start With A Free EstimateWe set the island size, appliances and seating with you and mark it out.
Gas, power and water routes are planned and permitted.
Lines are run, then the patio and island share one compacted base.
The island frame and finish go up with cutouts for each appliance.
Counters are set and appliances installed and connected.
Pavers go in around the island, lights are set and the site is cleaned.
Outdoor living we have built
Outdoor living spaces from finished Cicarelli jobs, where a kitchen, a fire feature and a patio work together.
A kitchen under a wood-ceiling cover, on the patio it serves.
An open pavilion pairing a fireplace with lounge seating.
Shade over a paver patio next to the cooking area.
A round fire pit patio a few steps from where the food is.
Pricing
Outdoor kitchens are priced by size, appliances and utilities. These are the items we measure.
Length of the island and counter space around the grill.
Grill, side burner, sink, refrigerator and storage you choose.
Gas, power and water runs from the house, each under a permit.
Island cladding, counter material and patio pavers.
A pergola or patio cover over the kitchen.
The patio base and how materials reach the yard.
Our guide to outdoor living features that add value includes kitchens, or send photos for a written quote. Get a written quote
Permits and rules
The island itself may not need a building permit, but the utilities usually do. Berkeley requires a permit for gas, electrical, mechanical or plumbing work unless it is specifically exempt, and a cover over the kitchen follows the city's structure rules. Zoning can still apply.
Before trenching utility lines, USA North 811 needs two working days' notice to mark buried lines.
Outdoor kitchen answers
Questions for an outdoor kitchen builder or outdoor kitchen contractor come down to cost, permits, layout and what to build first. These answers come from how we build outdoor kitchens and from the rules Bay Area cities post.
It depends on the size of the island, the appliances, the gas, power and water runs from the house, the finishes, any cover and the patio around it. A simple BBQ island with a built-in grill and a full covered kitchen with a sink and refrigerator are very different projects, so the reliable figure is an itemized estimate.
We price the island, appliances, utilities and patio on separate lines.
A BBQ island is a built-in counter that holds a grill, with some prep space and storage. An outdoor kitchen adds side burners, a sink, a refrigerator, longer counters and often seating and a cover. Many homeowners start with an island and plan utilities so it can grow.
Running the lines for future appliances at the start is much cheaper than adding them later.
Close enough to the house to keep gas, power and water runs short and carrying food easy, but placed so smoke does not drift into windows or seating. It should sit on the patio with room to work on both sides of the grill and a clear path to the table.
Planning it with the patio gives the best layout.
The island may not need a building permit on its own, but connecting it usually does. Berkeley, for example, requires permits for gas, electrical and plumbing work unless it is specifically exempt. A cover over the kitchen follows the structure rules. We check your city's rules and include the permits in the estimate.
Ask any contractor who pulls the gas and electrical permits before you sign.
| Rule | Official source |
|---|---|
| Gas, electrical, plumbing work | Permit required in Berkeley unless exempt (city page) |
| Detached accessory structures up to 120 sq ft | Exempt in Oakland and Berkeley (Oakland) |
| Zoning on exempt work | May still apply in Oakland and Berkeley (Berkeley) |
| Patio covers and pergolas | Not on the exempt lists checked; confirm with the city |
| Home improvement over $500 | Written contract naming who gets permits (CSLB) |
Summarized from the official pages linked above.
Updated · By Athalyson Bernardo, Owner of Cicarelli Contractors · CSLB #1109419
FAQ
Send photos of the patio area, where gas and power are now and the appliances you want, and we will reply with a written estimate. Our phones are open Monday to Saturday, 9 am to 5 pm, and the FAQ page covers more.
Call (650) 404-7049Often, yes. The island can sit on a sound patio, but utility lines may require cutting a trench through the pavers or running them around the edge. If a new patio is planned, building the kitchen with it is simpler and hides the lines completely.
Not always, but a cover protects appliances and makes the kitchen usable in sun and light rain. A pergola gives filtered shade; a solid patio cover gives full protection and follows the city's structure rules. We plan the cover with the kitchen layout.
Choose the grill before the island is built, because the cutout is sized to that model. Built-in grills are designed for islands and come in several widths. Natural gas grills connect to your gas line; propane models use a tank stored in the island.
Yes, with a water line and a drain. The drain is often the harder part, because it has to reach an approved connection. Planning the sink at the start lets the plumbing go in before the patio, under its own permit.
It depends on the size, the appliances, the utility runs and whether a cover is included. A simple BBQ island on a new patio is a shorter job than a covered kitchen with a sink and refrigerator. Permits for gas, electrical and plumbing can set the start date.
Call or text (650) 404-7049, Monday to Saturday, 9 am to 5 pm, or send photos and the appliances you want through the free estimate form. We send a written, itemized outdoor kitchen estimate within 24 hours of the photos or the site visit.
GuideHow Long Does Outdoor Living Construction Take in the Bay Area?
Guide9 Backyard Patio Ideas for Bay Area Homes That Work Year-Round
GuideHow to Get a Free Outdoor Living Space Estimate in the Bay AreaUpdated · By Athalyson Bernardo, Owner of Cicarelli Contractors
