Charleston Outdoor Kitchens is an independent matching service for homeowners buying an outdoor kitchen in Charleston and the wider the Lowcountry. We built it because outdoor kitchen pricing in this trade is genuinely opaque: the same counter run can be quoted at two very different prices, and the difference is usually what has been left out — the utility runs, the footings, the permit, the trenching — rather than what is included.
What we do
We publish the local conditions and the published trade figures that affect outdoor kitchens in and around Charleston, we run free tools and calculators on the site, and we route quote requests to licensed local professionals who do the work. Requests go to up to three providers, usually within one business day. There is no fee for homeowners and no obligation to hire anyone.
We are not a contractor
To be explicit: we are not a contractor. We do not design, build or install outdoor kitchens. We do not pour slabs or footings, we do not run gas, water or electrical lines, we do not sell appliances, stone or cabinetry, we do not hold the contract for any job, and we do not warrant the work of any professional we introduce. Every claim about what will be done on your property, and every warranty behind it, belongs to the licensed professional you hire. We are the introduction, not the builder.
Who we serve
Our coverage follows Charleston and the surrounding Charleston, Berkeley and Dorchester counties — the South Carolina Lowcountry 'tri-county' Charleston metro area area across the Lowcountry. Nearly everything that governs an outdoor kitchen here is decided locally: permits are issued by The City of Charleston issues residential structural (building), plumbing, electrical and fuel-gas permits through its Department of Development and Construction Services — Building Inspections Division, i.e. the Permit Center at 2 George Street, Charleston, SC 29401, phone 843-577-5550, with applications accepted in person and via the city's online Customer Self Service portal (https://www.charleston-sc.gov/856/Permit-Center). Properties in unincorporated Charleston County permit instead with Charleston County Building Inspection Services, and Mount Pleasant, Summerville, North Charleston and Goose Creek each operate their own building department — confirm which jurisdiction governs the parcel before filing., HOA approval is a separate process through Three approval layers can apply before an outdoor kitchen is built in the Charleston area. (1) Private HOA covenants and architectural-review-committee rules: most Charleston-area planned communities require design sign-off before a permanent outdoor structure is built, so read the covenants first. (2) Historic-district review: in the City of Charleston's Old and Historic District and other local districts, any exterior work visible from the public right-of-way needs a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Board of Architectural Review before a building permit will issue (https://charleston-sc.gov/BAR). (3) Flood-zone compliance: in the Special Flood Hazard Area the City of Charleston requires new residential construction to be designed 2 feet above Base Flood Elevation and documented with a FEMA Elevation Certificate, and marsh-adjacent lots may also trigger SC OCRM critical-area review (https://www.charleston-sc.gov/1944/Floodplain-Management)., and gas is supplied through South Carolina's Contractors' Licensing Board interpreted on July 21, 2016 that anyone performing natural-gas piping must hold a South Carolina Mechanical Contractors license with a Plumbing (PB) classification, which covers running a natural-gas line to a residential grill; LP/propane gas work instead requires an SC LP Gas Installer license issued by the State Fire Marshal's Office (https://llr.sc.gov/clb/updates.aspx). Separately, the statewide-adopted South Carolina Fuel Gas Code requires a permit from the local code official before fuel-gas piping is installed, altered or replaced, so a grill gas line needs its own fuel-gas permit and inspection apart from the building permit (https://up.codes/viewer/south_carolina/ifgc-2021/chapter/1/scope-and-administration).. Gas line work, new electrical circuits and any covered structure usually need a permit, and the gas and electrical work has to be done by licensed trades. That layering is one reason the introduction matters — a professional who works in your jurisdiction knows which authority is issuing the permit and what the inspection sequence looks like.
We serve homeowners and property managers building a first outdoor kitchen, replacing one that has failed, or adding a cover, a bar or a fireplace to a space that already works. Same free process either way.
How to check a professional before you hire
- Confirm the contractor has built outdoor kitchens, not just indoor remodels
- Verify the company carries current general liability and workers comp insurance
- Request references from outdoor projects completed in the last two years
- Confirm the structure warranty covers at least one year
- Ask who pulls the gas, electrical, and plumbing permits and who does the utility connections
- Ask for a written utility plan covering gas line sizing, electrical circuit capacity, and water shutoff locations before signing
- Verify gas lines are pressure-tested before the grill is connected
- Check that electrical circuits are grounded and GFCI-protected
- Ask for the counter run itemised by material and rate per linear foot, not just a total
- Ask how the build handles wind, rain, and freeze-thaw in your climate
- Read the payment schedule: a deposit at contract is normal, payment in full before the counter and appliances are set is not
Why the numbers on this site are sourced
Cost bands, per-linear-foot rates, installed add-on ranges and lifespans here are the published trade figures, quoted as published rather than rounded or averaged. Where the site names a material choice, it names the published comparison behind it, and where a figure does not exist publicly we say so and tell you what to ask instead. The local detail — permitting authority, gas supply, the soil under the footings and what the climate does to a counter run — belongs to the jurisdiction you are building in, which is why it is stated per market rather than borrowed from another one.
Nobody should be choosing a five-figure build on the strength of a phone call.
Frequently asked questions
Are you an outdoor kitchen contractor?
No. We are an independent matching service and we are not a contractor. The professional who takes the job holds the contract, the licence and the warranty for the work.
How do you make money?
The service is free to homeowners. Requests are routed to local professionals who participate in the network; nothing is charged to you for the introduction, and no provider is ranked by payment.
Which areas do you cover?
Charleston and the surrounding Charleston, Berkeley and Dorchester counties — the South Carolina Lowcountry 'tri-county' Charleston metro area area across the Lowcountry. If you are outside a town limit, say which crossroads you are nearest and we will route from there.
