You’ve invested $30,000, $50,000, or more in your outdoor kitchen — and naturally, you want to know whether your homeowners insurance will protect it. The answer depends on how the kitchen was built, how it’s attached to your property, and what your current policy covers. Here’s what Broken Arrow and Tulsa homeowners need to know.
Is Your Outdoor Kitchen Covered Under Homeowners Insurance?
In most cases, a permanently built outdoor kitchen that is attached to or structurally associated with your home will be covered under your homeowners insurance as a “permanent structure” or “other structure” — similar to a detached garage or fence. However, this coverage typically comes with conditions and coverage limits that vary by policy.
The “Other Structures” Coverage Limit
Standard homeowners insurance policies include “Coverage B” — Other Structures — which covers detached structures on your property like fences, detached garages, and permanent outdoor features. Coverage B is typically set at 10% of your home’s dwelling coverage limit.
Example: if your home is insured for $400,000, your Other Structures coverage is typically $40,000. If your outdoor kitchen cost $55,000 to build, you have a gap. Many homeowners with high-value outdoor kitchens need to increase their Other Structures coverage — talk to your insurance agent about an endorsement to raise the limit.
What Is and Isn’t Typically Covered
Usually Covered
- Fire damage to the outdoor kitchen structure and cabinets
- Storm damage (hail, wind, lightning strike)
- Vandalism
- Falling objects (tree branch)
- The permanent structure, countertops, and built-in cabinets
Often Not Covered (or Requiring Separate Coverage)
- Flooding (requires separate flood insurance even for outdoor structures)
- Earthquake damage
- Normal wear, deterioration, and maintenance-related damage
- Appliances (grill, refrigerator, etc.) may be subject to a separate appliance or personal property sublimit
- Accidental damage from your own actions
The Appliance Question
Your outdoor grill, refrigerator, and other appliances may be treated as personal property rather than structural elements by your insurer — meaning they fall under a different coverage sublimit. Call your insurance agent specifically to ask how your outdoor kitchen appliances are classified under your policy.
Steps to Protect Your Outdoor Kitchen Investment
- Call your insurance agent before or right after the outdoor kitchen is completed
- Provide photos and the builder’s invoice documenting the cost
- Ask specifically: “What is my Other Structures limit and does it cover my outdoor kitchen at full replacement cost?”
- Request an endorsement to increase Other Structures coverage if needed
- Ask whether appliances are covered under dwelling or personal property coverage
Permits Help With Claims
One more reason to pull permits on your outdoor kitchen build: a permitted, code-compliant structure is much easier to insure and much easier to file a successful claim for. Insurance companies can deny or complicate claims on unpermitted structures. VistaScapes pulls all required permits on our outdoor kitchen projects — protecting your investment from day one.
Call VistaScapes Design at (918) 210-6814 to start planning a properly permitted, insurance-ready outdoor kitchen in Broken Arrow, Tulsa, or anywhere in Green Country.
