What shapes the investment
- Custom, covered or pre-fabricated
- Size, counter length and appliance count
- Materials from the association palette
- Gas, water, drain and electrical runs, routed around the oaks
- The cover, patio and lighting around it
Outdoor Kitchens in Thousand Oaks
Outdoor Kitchen Design and Build in Thousand Oaks
Outdoor kitchens for Thousand Oaks homes, made for long Conejo Valley evenings. We design the kitchen around how you cook and host, keep its footings and utility trenches clear of the oaks, draw it for your association, engineer any cover for the fall wind, and run the gas, water and electrical, pull the permits and build it with our own crews.
- 25+years of experience
- 10,000+projects completed
- In-housedesign-build crews
- LIC #715731licensed & insured
- 5-star
Start here
What you're looking for
Start with how you cook and how you host; the size, the appliances and the cover mostly follow from it. These are the four kitchens Thousand Oaks homeowners ask for most, shown in our work across Greater Los Angeles.
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01 A full kitchen outdoors Grill, prep space, sink and storage in one run, so a whole meal gets cooked without going back inside. See outdoor kitchens -
02 A kitchen and bar under a roof A cabana or pavilion over the bar and the counter, with its footings and connections engineered for the Santa Anas. See entertaining kitchens -
03 Dining under a pergola A table beside the grill, under a pergola that filters the sun, so the cook stays part of the party. See complete backyards -
04 Fire for the evening A gas fire table a few steps from the kitchen, so the evening keeps going once the grill is off. See fire features
Service options
Custom-Built Outdoor Kitchen
Best for Anyone who wants the exact layout, appliances and finish they have in mind.
- Any size, shape and configuration
- Choose all appliances and finishes
- Integrates with the patio, the pool and the planting
- Built in stone, stucco or concrete that will not burn
- Full design customization
On your property Built in place on a concrete base, in a palette your association will approve, with its footing and utility trenches kept outside any protected oak's zone. Gas, water and electrical are run and permitted with it.
- Patios
- Pergolas
- Bar seating
- Entertaining lighting
Covered Kitchen and Bar
Best for Homeowners who want the kitchen, bar and lounge under one roof, usable on hot afternoons and cool evenings.
- A solid roof for shade and the occasional rain
- Room for ceiling fans, heaters, a screen and lighting
- Kitchen, bar and lounge in one outdoor room
- Gas and wiring run inside the structure
- Reads as part of the house rather than an add-on
On your property A covered structure is permitted in its own right and usually goes through association review. In the Conejo Valley we engineer its footings and connections for the Santa Anas, and near open space build it with ignition-resistant materials.
- Pools and spas
- Outdoor lighting
- Fire features
Pre-Fab Kitchen Island
Best for Homeowners on a tighter budget or timeline who want a quality kitchen quickly.
- Faster installation than custom
- Fixed sizes from manufacturers
- Most economical option
- Includes grill and basic prep space
- Can add storage, freezer or cooler
On your property Arrives as modular units and is installed on a prepared patio or concrete base. The gas, water and electrical still have to be run and permitted.
- Simple patios
- Existing utilities
- Modest entertaining spaces
How we work
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Before Assess how you cook and host
How often you cook, what you cook and how many people you feed decide the size, the appliances and whether the kitchen needs a roof.
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Design Design and appliance selection
Layout, grill, refrigeration, storage and finishes, drawn with the dining, the shade and the pool around them and shown in 3D for you and your association.
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Utilities Utilities, HOA and permits
Gas, water, drain and electrical runs are routed outside the oaks' root zones, and the city permits and association approval secured, before any cabinet is set.
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Installation Installation
Our crews build the base and the island, install and test the appliances and finish the counters. Pre-fab islands arrive mostly ready.
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Finished Integration and finishing
Paving, seating, shade, lighting and planting finish the outdoor room around the kitchen.
Key decisions
Things worth knowing before a first consultation.
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Custom, covered or pre-fab
A custom island fits the space exactly, a covered kitchen adds a room, and a pre-fab island saves time and money in fixed sizes.
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The oaks
The island, its footing and the gas, water and electrical trenches stay outside a protected oak's zone. Placed well, the oak becomes the kitchen's shade.
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Association palette
Many Thousand Oaks associations restrict colors, materials and structure heights. We choose finishes from the approved palette and submit with samples.
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Wind
Covers get engineered footings and connections, umbrellas are specified for gusts, and nothing light is left where the Santa Anas can move it.
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Gas, water and electrical
Gas and electrical runs and a sink drain are what trigger permits from the City of Thousand Oaks. Planned early, the lines run under the paving instead of across it.
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Fire near open space
Stone, stucco, concrete and steel do not burn, and a roof near open space is built with ignition-resistant materials.
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Integration with the yard
The kitchen anchors an outdoor room. The pool, dining, lounge, lighting and planting complete it.
Investment and timeline
No quote written off a photograph can account for what your property is like.
What shapes the schedule
- Design and appliance selection
- Association review and City of Thousand Oaks permits
- An oak permit where work comes close to a protected tree
- Appliance and cabinet lead times
- Installation and system testing
Why residential resort was drawn together with the rest of the property
Decking, drainage, utilities, planting, shade and lighting all bear on where a feature goes and how it gets built. Settling them on one set of drawings is what keeps conduit out of the wrong trench and stops paving being cut to fit afterward.
- One plan The pool, the outdoor kitchen and the seating were drawn together on the concept plan.
- Covered patio A covered patio beside the pool holds the seating out of the midday sun.
- Stone paving Stone paving runs from the covered patio to the pool deck as one surface.
- Lawn and steppers Stepping pads cross the lawn, so the yard stays green between the rooms.
- Hedge A clipped hedge screens the neighbors along the property line.
Access, engineering, permits, finishes and scope vary a lot from one property to the next, so the investment and the schedule for your project are set once we have seen the site and the design is settled.
Tell us about the property and what you want the space to do. We will walk through the design, site and permitting factors likely to shape it.
What customers say
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We hired Pacific Outdoor Living in October 2020, after living in the house for about 30 years. They did a complete backyard renovation converting a relatively unusable sloped backyard with a very small patio into a 2 tiered outdoor entertaining showpiece with room to host and entertain 20+ people. We couldn't be happier with their ideas and design for the space.
Mark Lewin Google review Two-tiered entertaining space with a kitchen and fire pit -
Jay designed our complete transformation from a dirt yard into something beautiful. Our backyard is now the most beautiful and functional space in our home.
Judy B. Yelp review From dirt yard to designed outdoor space -
After redoing the backyard, Pacific Outdoor Living also handled the driveway, walkway, and outdoor kitchen, creating a home made for hosting. Each project coordinated seamlessly with the others, and the vision came together beautifully. We now have an outdoor space perfect for entertaining and family gatherings.
Lily Chavis Google review Backyard, driveway and outdoor kitchen
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a permit for an outdoor kitchen in Thousand Oaks?
Usually, if the kitchen has gas, electrical or plumbing. The gas line, new circuits and a sink drain are what typically trigger permits from the City of Thousand Oaks, a covered structure needs its own, and work near a protected oak needs an oak permit. We handle them in house.
Will my HOA need to approve it?
In many Thousand Oaks neighborhoods, yes, especially for a cover or anything visible from the street. We design to your association's palette and rules and submit with the 3D model and samples, alongside the city permit.
Can the kitchen go near our oak?
Often, with care. The island, its footing and the utility trenches go outside the protected zone, and a mature oak can give the kitchen the shade it needs. Smoke and heat are kept away from the canopy too.
Will a cover hold up to the Santa Anas?
Built the right way, yes. We engineer the footings and connections for the wind, use solid or louvered roofs rather than fabric where gusts are strong, and specify umbrellas and loose furniture with the worst week of the year in mind.
What appliances should we include?
Start with how you cook. A grill and enough prep space are essential; refrigeration, a sink, side burners, a pizza oven and a warming drawer are the most popular additions. We size the counter to the appliances you will actually use.
What does an outdoor kitchen cost in Thousand Oaks?
It depends on size, counter length, appliances, materials, how far the gas, water and electrical have to run around the oaks, and whether it is covered. Your designer prices it from a measured plan.
Can you build the kitchen as part of a larger remodel?
Yes, and it is often the best value. Running the gas, water and electrical while the pool and paving are going in costs less than opening finished work later, and one association submittal covers the whole yard.
Do you build outdoor kitchens across Thousand Oaks?
Yes, from the older neighborhoods under the oaks to North Ranch, Lang Ranch and Dos Vientos, and in Westlake Village, Agoura Hills and the rest of the Conejo Valley. Use the address checker on our Thousand Oaks page to confirm coverage.
Ready to get started?
Schedule a consultation with one of our designers to discuss your project goals and explore what's possible on your property.
What happens next: we set up a visit, measure the property and talk through what you want the space to do. Then you get a design to look at before you commit to anything.