An outdoor kitchen on the Treasure Coast or in northern Palm Beach County has to do two jobs. It has to be a beautiful place to cook from Thanksgiving to Easter, and it has to come through August, September and October with nothing torn loose, nothing flooded with power on and no gas left open. The second job is decided mostly at the design stage, long before a storm is named.
The short answer
A hurricane-ready outdoor kitchen in Stuart, Jupiter and the surrounding towns is a heavy, non-combustible island set on a proper slab, with a 316 marine grade grill, permitted gas and electrical work, and an accessible shutoff for every appliance. Any roof or pergola over it is engineered to the Florida Building Code wind speed for that exact property. Before a storm, close the gas, switch off the outdoor circuits, and bring covers, cushions and anything on wheels inside. Afterward, let a qualified technician check anything that sat in floodwater before it is lit again.
Key takeaways
- Design wind speed is set per property. Martin County points owners to its Property Information Lookup, and Palm Beach County publishes wind speed maps.
- Palm Beach and Martin are outside the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone, which covers only Miami-Dade and Broward, but all of unincorporated Palm Beach County is in the wind-borne debris region.
- Martin County lists outdoor kitchens, gas lines, new circuits and patio roofs among the projects that need a permit.
- Among the grill brands we carry, only Blaze and Broilmaster build 316 marine grade grill heads.
- A cover protects against weather, not wind. Before a hurricane, covers come off and go inside.
In this guide
- Hurricane-ready choices at a glance
- What wind speed does an outdoor kitchen need to meet in Martin and Palm Beach County?
- Should the island be masonry or modular?
- Why 316 stainless matters more after a storm
- Do you need a permit for an outdoor kitchen in Stuart or Jupiter?
- How do you shut down an outdoor kitchen before a hurricane?
- What to inspect after the storm
- Martin County and northern Palm Beach County notes
- Our recommended models
- Which should you choose?
- Frequently asked questions
Hurricane-ready choices at a glance
Most storm resilience comes from four decisions.
| Decision | Our recommendation | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Island structure | Masonry on a footing or thickened slab for permanent waterfront builds; modular aluminum where a fast, clean install matters more | Mass and a tied-in base resist wind and water best |
| Grill grade | 316 marine grade within reach of salt air | Storm spray drives salt into every seam |
| Utilities | Permitted gas with a reachable shutoff; labeled GFCI circuits on their own breaker | Shutdown takes minutes instead of a search |
| Loose items | An indoor home for covers, cushions, carts and portable ovens | Anything that can move becomes debris |
What wind speed does an outdoor kitchen need to meet in Martin and Palm Beach County?
There is no single number for a county. The Florida Building Code assigns a design wind speed by location and by the structure's risk category. Martin County's building forms cite the Florida Building Code 8th Edition (2023) and Chapter 6 of ASCE 7-22, and they tell applicants to use the county's Property Information Lookup to find the wind speed for their parcel. Palm Beach County's Planning, Zoning and Building department publishes wind speed maps and notes that all of unincorporated Palm Beach County lies within the wind-borne debris region.
The High-Velocity Hurricane Zone applies only to Miami-Dade and Broward. Palm Beach and Martin fall under the standard wind provisions, with the engineering done to the address. For a kitchen, the island is a low, heavy object; a pergola, patio roof, hood support or privacy wall is what catches wind, and that is where we want an engineer's stamp and a permit.
Should the island be masonry or modular?
Anchored masonry islands
A concrete block island finished in stucco, stone or tile, built on a footing or a thickened section of slab, is the most storm-tolerant base we build. Its weight resists uplift and sliding, it does not rot when water stands against it, and it can be tied to the slab as your engineer or plan reviewer requires. Broilmaster designs its built-ins for exactly this kind of enclosure, and says not to grout or fasten the head in so it can lift out for service.
Modular aluminum islands
Prefabricated outdoor kitchen islands arrive as finished modules and install without masonry. The Blaze and Urban Bonfire islands in our catalog use non-combustible marine grade aluminum cabinetry with 304 stainless hardware, set on adjustable leveling legs on a flat, level patio. Aluminum will not rust, a real advantage after a wet storm. The trade-off is mass, so we confirm anchorage with the manufacturer and the plan reviewer before setting one on an exposed waterfront site.
From our install team
Look at where water goes before you look at finishes. We set the island where the patio drains away from it, keep electrical connections up off the slab, and avoid tucking a propane tank into a low corner of the yard. A kitchen that stays dry needs far less attention after a storm.
Why 316 stainless matters more after a storm
A tropical system drives salt spray inland, into burner ports, hinges and seams, and it often sits there for days before anyone can wash it off. Grade 316 stainless contains molybdenum, which makes it far more resistant to the chloride pitting and tea staining that follows. Grade 304 does not.
Among the grill brands we carry, only Blaze and Broilmaster build 316 grill heads. The Blaze Premium LTE+ Marine Grade 32 is built in 316L. The Broilmaster B-Series 32 Marine Grade uses 316 for the head, the cast burners and the grids, and Broilmaster notes it is not intended for boats. We cover the chemistry, the magnet test and warranty language in our 304 vs 316 stainless steel grill guide.
Blaze Broilmaster Built-in propane grills
Do you need a permit for an outdoor kitchen in Stuart or Jupiter?
In unincorporated Martin County, yes. The county's permit list names outdoor kitchens, gas lines, new electrical circuits and patio covers and roofs, and its gas checklist asks for a piping schematic showing appliance sizes, pipe lengths, valves and regulators, along with a survey that shows the flood zone. Palm Beach County's Building Division says the code requires permits for most construction-related work and directs owners with unlisted projects to its Permit Center.
Incorporated municipalities such as Stuart, Jupiter, Tequesta and Palm Beach Gardens handle their own permitting, and homeowner associations often add their own review. We start both early, because the permit drawings settle anchoring, shutoff locations and wind design.
Not sure what fits your space? Send us the address and a few photos of the patio, and we will tell you which island structure, grill grade and utility layout we would plan for that site. Book a free design consultation and we will help you narrow it down.
How do you shut down an outdoor kitchen before a hurricane?
The National Weather Service's hurricane safety checklist is short and worth following: store lawn furniture and other loose, lightweight objects, turn off propane tanks, and turn off utilities if authorities tell you to. Applied to an outdoor kitchen, that becomes:
- Close the gas at the appliance. Turn every knob off, then close the shutoff valve serving the kitchen. On propane, close the tank valve. Leave the main natural gas meter to the utility unless officials instruct otherwise.
- Secure the propane. North Carolina's LP gas regulators, for example, advise that tanks below the 100 year flood level be anchored so they cannot float away. Florida regulates LP gas through the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, which adopts NFPA 58, so ask your propane supplier how your tank is secured. Portable 20 lb cylinders go somewhere upright, outdoors and tied down, never inside the house.
- Switch off the outdoor circuits. Refrigeration, lights and igniters should run on GFCI-protected circuits. Have the electrician label that breaker so whoever closes the house can find it.
- Bring in what moves. Grill covers, cushions, utensils, portable pizza ovens and anything on casters, including a freestanding grill on its cart. Disconnect a propane cylinder first; it stays outside.
Covers or indoor storage?
Both, at different times. A breathable grill cover is right for everyday rain, sun and pollen. In hurricane wind it becomes a sail and then a projectile, so it comes off and goes indoors with the cushions. A freestanding grill connected to natural gas with a quick disconnect hose can be unhooked by hand and rolled into the garage; a built-in head stays put inside its masonry or aluminum cutout with the hood closed.
From our install team
For seasonal owners, we leave a one-page shutdown sheet with the property manager: where the gas shutoff is, which breaker feeds the kitchen, where the covers go.
What to inspect after the storm
The Weather Service's guidance after a hurricane is to check gas, water and electrical lines and appliances for damage once you are home, and to stay clear of standing water, which may be electrically charged from downed lines. For an outdoor kitchen, we work in this order:
- Look before you touch. Any sign of standing water around the island, a damaged outlet or a downed line means the breaker stays off until an electrician has looked.
- Check the gas. If you smell gas, leave the area and call the utility or your propane supplier from a safe distance. Propane regulators advise having the supplier check the system for leaks before service is restored.
- Treat flooded components as suspect. Any valve, regulator, igniter, light transformer or refrigerator that sat in water should be inspected by a qualified technician, and replaced where needed, before it is used again.
- Wash the salt off. Rinse the grill, hood and cabinetry with fresh water, clean out burner ports and the drip tray, and dry everything before the cover goes back on.
- Check the structure. Look at pergola posts, roof connections and countertop joints for movement.
Martin County and northern Palm Beach County notes
We plan and install outdoor kitchens through Martin County, including Stuart, Palm City, Jensen Beach and Hobe Sound, and in northern Palm Beach County, from Jupiter and Tequesta to Palm Beach Gardens. We have no Florida showroom; we design from site photos, video calls and visits.
- Martin County: look up your parcel's design wind speed through the county's Property Information Lookup, and expect the survey for a gas permit to show the flood zone and elevations.
- Palm Beach County: unincorporated areas are entirely in the wind-borne debris region, and the county's wind speed maps are the starting point for any roofed structure.
- Waterfront lots: Jupiter Island, Jensen Beach, Hobe Sound and the river frontage in Stuart and Palm City see the most salt exposure. That is where we specify 316 grills and masonry or anchored bases.
- Season: hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30, while most seasonal owners are away.
For the broader planning picture, from snowbird timelines to cabinetry and refrigeration, read our guide to outdoor kitchens in Palm Beach, Jupiter and Stuart.
Our recommended models
Each pick is 316 marine grade or makes storm shutdown easier.
Outdoor kitchen islands Grill covers Outdoor kitchens
Which should you choose?
Choose an anchored masonry island if:
- You are on the ocean, the Intracoastal or the St. Lucie River.
- The kitchen is permanent and you want the most mass and the least maintenance.
- You plan a roof, pergola or hood over it that will be engineered anyway.
Choose a modular aluminum island if:
- You want a finished kitchen without weeks of masonry work.
- The patio is protected or inland, and anchorage is confirmed.
- Rust-free cabinetry matters more to you than weight.
On the water, we recommend a masonry island on a proper base with a 316 grill from Blaze or Broilmaster, permitted utilities with labeled shutoffs, and a written storm plan. Inland, a modular marine grade island is a refined choice once anchorage is settled.
Frequently asked questions
Should I turn off the gas to my outdoor kitchen before a hurricane?
Yes, at the appliance. Turn the knobs off, close the kitchen's shutoff valve, and close the tank valve on propane. The National Weather Service advises turning off propane tanks, and other utilities if authorities say to.
Do outdoor kitchens need to be anchored in Florida?
Pergolas and patio roofs over the kitchen must be designed for the Florida Building Code wind speed at your property. For the island, ask your plan reviewer and the manufacturer what anchorage they require; masonry on a footing is the most storm-tolerant option.
Is a grill cover enough protection during a hurricane?
No. A cover protects against rain, sun and salt between uses. In hurricane wind it can tear loose, so store it indoors with the cushions.
Which grills hold up best to salt air on the Treasure Coast?
Grills built in 316 marine grade stainless. Among the brands we carry, only Blaze and Broilmaster make 316 grill heads, including the Blaze Premium LTE+ Marine Grade 32 and the Broilmaster B-Series 32 Marine Grade.
Can I use my grill after it sat in floodwater?
Not until a qualified technician has inspected it. Submerged valves, regulators, igniters and electrical parts may need replacement, and your propane supplier should leak-check the system before it is relit.
Talk to a specialist
A coastal kitchen built for the season and the storms
We have been designing, selling, installing and servicing fire features and outdoor kitchens for over 30 years across New York City, Long Island, Westchester, New Jersey and South Florida. Share your Martin or Palm Beach County address and we will plan the island, the grill grade and the storm shutdown together.
Book a free consultation Call 718-326-4328Showroom: 58-30 Maspeth Ave, Maspeth, Queens. Our Greenvale, Long Island showroom at 13 Glen Cove Road opens winter 2026. Plan your visit.
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Written by the NYC Fireplaces & Outdoor Kitchens team. Last reviewed October 2026. We sell, install and service the products discussed here.
Sources: Martin County Form 100, Martin County: Do I need a permit?, Martin County gas tank and gas line checklist, Palm Beach County wind speed maps, Palm Beach County permit brochure, UF GeoPlan Center wind speed maps for the 2023 FBC, IIBEC on the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone, National Weather Service hurricane safety, NOAA National Hurricane Center climatology, NC Department of Agriculture LP gas hurricane safety, FEMA: anchor tanks and cylinders, Florida rule 5F-11.002 (NFPA 58 adoption), Blaze Marine Grade 316L. Specifications change; always confirm with the manufacturer's current installation manual and your local building department.