Quick answer: A butler's pantry is "a service room between kitchen and dining room," in Merriam-Webster's definition, which dates the term to 1721; a "butler's kitchen" has no dictionary, NKBA or MLS definition that I could find, so it is a listing label for whatever the room holds. Tallahassee Magazine describes a butler's pantry as a room for tableware, glassware and linens that can often include a small sink, beverage fridge or ice maker. Both it and Angi describe a scullery as a working room for prep and cleanup, which Angi says can hold a dishwasher, sink, stove and oven. MasterClass, though, treats the two as the same room. The national MLS data standard (RESO Data Dictionary 2.0) has "Pantry," "Wet Bar" and "Dumbwaiter" values but none for a butler's pantry, scullery or prep kitchen, so the listing has to say it in words and I confirm it in person. Under the Florida Realtors/Florida Bar ASIS-7x contract, the seller's refrigerators and dishwashers are on the included list unless excluded, but warming drawers, ice makers and wine or beverage refrigerators are not named, so write them into the contract.
A listing that says "butler's pantry" might mean a run of cabinets with a small sink between the kitchen and dining room, or a closed room behind the kitchen with a dishwasher and stove, which another listing calls a butler's kitchen, scullery or prep kitchen. Here is what each term means, where sources disagree, and what I check.
What is a butler's pantry?
Merriam-Webster defines a butler's pantry as "a service room between kitchen and dining room" and gives 1721 as its first known use. "Pantry" itself traces, through Anglo-French "paneter servant in charge of the pantry," to "pain bread, from Latin panis."
Tallahassee Magazine (October 31, 2025) says a butler's pantry "is typically located between the kitchen and the dining room," "houses tableware, glassware, linens, and other hosting essentials," and "can often include a small beverage fridge, a small sink, and/or an ice maker."
What did a butler's pantry do at Whitehall and Biltmore?
At the Flagler Museum's Whitehall in Palm Beach, the museum's Breakfast Room page says "Servants had direct access to the Breakfast Room through a door that connected to the butler's pantry and kitchen area." Its Servants Room page places the "kitchen and pantry areas and a servants' dining room" in the northwest wing, "destroyed when the hotel addition was built in 1925." I found no museum page describing a butler's pantry that visitors can tour. For the town, see my Palm Beach real estate page.
Biltmore House in Asheville, North Carolina, calls its Butler's Pantry "the central nervous system of Biltmore House." The estate's page, updated May 14, 2026, says it "features two dumbwaiters used to deliver food from the basement kitchen and pantry," one electric, rated for 250 pounds at 100 feet per minute, and one manual, along with "an electric warming oven" for plates and serving dishes and "small refrigerators to keep milk, butter, and other dairy products cool until served." Meals arrived there by dumbwaiter, ready to be plated and delivered to the family and guests: the original job was staging food between the kitchen and the table.
What is a scullery?
Merriam-Webster defines a scullery as "a room for cleaning and storing dishes and cooking utensils and for doing messy kitchen work," first used in the 15th century. Angi (updated July 9, 2026) calls it "an overflow kitchen or a small room near the kitchen used to prepare food and wash and store dishes," and says "A modern scullery is a type of pantry with kitchen appliances like a dishwasher, sink, stove, oven, and microwave." Tallahassee Magazine says a scullery "has served as a staging area for caterers" and "is primarily for simple prep and post-meal cleanup," and it describes a "dirty kitchen," also called a "back kitchen," as "essentially an extra kitchen where your cooking and prep can occur."
What is a butler's kitchen or prep kitchen?
Not a defined room. I found no dictionary, NKBA or MLS definition of "butler's kitchen," "prep kitchen" or "catering kitchen," and Angi lists "butler's pantry, scullery, prep kitchen, working kitchen, dirty kitchen, or even just second kitchen" as names for a second kitchen. The older words are loose, too: MasterClass (updated September 21, 2021) says a butler's pantry is "Also known as a scullery or a serving pantry," while Angi and Tallahassee Magazine treat the scullery as a separate, more equipped room, and Angi's FAQ says a butler's pantry stores items but does not wash them. So I go by where the room sits and what is plumbed into it.
Butler's pantry vs scullery vs walk-in pantry: how to tell them apart
| Room | Where sources place it | What sources say is in it | Who defines it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Butler's pantry | Between the kitchen and the dining room | Tableware, glassware and linens; often a small sink, beverage refrigerator or ice maker | Merriam-Webster; Tallahassee Magazine |
| Pantry or walk-in pantry | Not specified | Food, dishes and utensils | RESO "Pantry": "A small room or closet where food, dishes and utensils are stored" |
| Scullery, dirty kitchen or back kitchen | Near, beside or behind the main kitchen | A sink and dishwasher, sometimes a stove, oven and microwave, for prep, washing and messy work | Merriam-Webster; Angi; Tallahassee Magazine |
| Butler's kitchen, prep kitchen, catering kitchen | Varies | Whatever is installed | No definition found |
How will the MLS listing show a butler's pantry?
MLS fields map to the RESO Data Dictionary, the national standard. Its version 2.0 Interior Features list, generated October 19, 2026, has no "Butler's Pantry," "Scullery," "Prep Kitchen" or "Catering Kitchen" value. The closest are "Pantry," "Wet Bar" (a fixture "that has a faucet and sink"), "Dry Bar" (one that "does not have a water supply or sink") and "Dumbwaiter" ("A small elevator, typically for carrying food between floors in a structure"). Second appliances go in the Appliances field, as "Bar Fridge," "Warming Drawer," "Ice Maker" or "Wine Refrigerator."
So a listing has to say "butler's pantry" in words, and I confirm it in person. The local MLS may use its own labels, which I did not verify.
What do NKBA's kitchen planning guidelines say?
The National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA), a trade association, publishes "Kitchen Planning Guidelines with Access Standards." The copy I read is undated, was posted in May 2022 per its file path, and bases its kitchen code references on the 2015 International Residential Code (IRC) and the International Plumbing Code, and its access standards on ICC A117.1-2009. Its figures are labeled "Recommended," and it says to "check local, state, and national laws that apply to your design," so treat them as a usability check, not Florida code.
| NKBA guideline | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Work aisle (Guideline 6) | At least 42 inches for one cook and at least 48 inches for multiple cooks |
| Cleanup or prep sink (Guideline 11) | At least 24 inches of landing area on one side and 18 inches on the other |
| Second sink (Guideline 15) | At least 3 inches of countertop on one side and 18 inches on the other, at the sink's height |
| Primary dishwasher (Guideline 13) | Nearest edge within 36 inches of a cleanup or prep sink, with at least 21 inches of standing space |
| Ventilation (Guideline 19) | A correctly sized, ducted system; recommended minimum 150 cubic feet per minute (cfm) |
NKBA also states, from the 2015 IRC, that hoods "capable of exhausting in excess of 400 cfm" need makeup air, and that GFCI (ground-fault circuit-interrupter) protection "is required on all receptacles servicing countertop surfaces within the kitchen." I could not read the exhaust chapter (Chapter 15) of the Florida Building Code, Residential, 8th Edition (2023), or Florida's adopted electrical code, so I give no Florida numbers. For a second range or new outlets, ask a licensed contractor or electrician.
Does the second refrigerator or dishwasher stay with the house?
Under the Florida Realtors/Florida Bar "AS IS" Residential Contract for Sale and Purchase, form ASIS-7x (on Form Simplicity from February 27, 2026, per Florida Realtors), paragraph 1(c) includes "all existing improvements and fixtures, including built-in appliances, built-in furnishings and attached wall-to-wall carpeting and flooring" unless excluded. Paragraph 1(d) includes items "which are owned by Seller and existing on the Property as of the date of the initial offer," starting with "range(s)/oven(s), refrigerator(s), dishwasher(s), disposal," and leaves a blank line after "Other Personal Property items included in this purchase are:" for anything else. Paragraph 1(e), "The following items are excluded from the purchase:", is the exclusion line.
The form does not name warming drawers, ice makers, wine or beverage refrigerators or coffee systems, and it does not define "built-in." I write each appliance in the room into the contract by name and location, on the 1(d) line if it stays or the 1(e) line if the seller keeps it, and paragraph 12(b) lets the buyer confirm at the walk-through "that all items of Personal Property are on the Property." Whether an item is a fixture is a question for a Florida real estate attorney. On the inspection period, see what happens when a Florida home fails inspection under an AS IS contract.
Do you need a permit to add a butler's pantry or scullery?
Martin County's "Do I Need a Building Permit?" page lists "Kitchen and Bathroom remodels," "Gas Lines" and "Electrical panels, Circuits" as needing a permit, and "Cabinetry" and "Appliance Replacement (plug in)" as not. Repairs involving "the replacement or rearrangement of valves, pipes or fixtures" are not on its no-permit list. The page points to Section 105.2 of the Florida Building Code and the Building Department at (772) 288-5916. It does not say whether it covers Stuart or the towns, and I did not check the Port St. Lucie or St. Lucie County lists. When you buy, I ask the listing agent for the permit history of any second kitchen.
What does a Florida home inspection cover in these rooms?
Under Rule 61-30.807 of the Florida Administrative Code (as amended effective July 31, 2014), the inspector inspects "Household appliances" "using normal operating controls" to determine whether they "are significantly deficient," and is not required to "Move any appliance," "Confirm operation of every control or feature of a system or appliance," or "Determine the presence or operation of back draft damper devices in exhaust devices." So a second range or beverage refrigerator that is connected and not excluded in writing gets a basic operating check; if a feature matters, ask the inspector before you hire.
How to confirm a butler's pantry or scullery at a showing
- Where is it? Between the kitchen and the dining room points to a butler's pantry; beside or behind the kitchen points to a scullery or back kitchen.
- What is plumbed in? A small sink, beverage refrigerator or ice maker fits the butler's pantry descriptions; a sink and dishwasher, sometimes a stove, fits the scullery descriptions.
- Measure the aisle against NKBA's 42 inches for one cook and 48 inches for more than one.
- If there is a range or cooktop, look for a ducted hood and ask for the permit for any gas line or new circuit.
- Write down each appliance by name and location for the contract's 1(d) or 1(e) line.
What I could not confirm
I did not read the Florida plumbing code on how a second dishwasher or bar sink must drain, and I found no source on whether these rooms change an appraisal, so this post makes no value claim. A second kitchen inside a separate suite raises other questions, covered in my post on mother-in-law suites.
More guides to rooms in luxury homes: the butler's room and staff quarters, wine rooms and wine cellars, summer kitchens and cabana baths, primary suite morning kitchens and dressing rooms, safe rooms, home theater vs media room and home wellness rooms.
Questions people ask about butler's pantries and sculleries
What is a butler's pantry?
Merriam-Webster defines it as "a service room between kitchen and dining room," with a first known use in 1721. Tallahassee Magazine says a modern one can often include a small beverage fridge, a small sink or an ice maker.
What is the difference between a butler's pantry and a scullery?
Merriam-Webster and Tallahassee Magazine place a butler's pantry between the kitchen and dining room, while Angi describes a scullery as a working room near the kitchen with appliances such as a dishwasher, sink and stove, for prep and cleanup. MasterClass treats the two as the same room, so identify the room by where it sits and what is plumbed in.
Is a butler's kitchen the same as a prep kitchen?
Neither term has a dictionary, NKBA or MLS definition that I could find. Angi lists prep kitchen, scullery and dirty kitchen among names for a second kitchen, so judge the room by its fixtures.
How does an MLS listing show a butler's pantry?
The RESO Data Dictionary 2.0 has "Pantry," "Wet Bar," "Dry Bar" and "Dumbwaiter" values but no "Butler's Pantry" or "Scullery" value. Look for the room in the listing remarks and confirm it in person.
Does a second refrigerator or dishwasher stay with a Florida home?
Under paragraph 1(d) of the ASIS-7x contract, the seller's "refrigerator(s), dishwasher(s)" on the property at the initial offer are included unless excluded in 1(e). Warming drawers, ice makers and wine or beverage refrigerators are not named, so write them into the contract by name.
How wide should a scullery or prep kitchen aisle be?
NKBA recommends a work aisle of at least 42 inches for one cook and at least 48 inches for multiple cooks. Those are trade association recommendations, not Florida code.
Talk with William. Touring a home with a butler's pantry or scullery, or getting ready to list one? Send me the address or listing link, and I will ask the listing agent for the permit history, list each appliance in that room for the contract's 1(d) or 1(e) line, and give you the questions to put to your inspector. Call or text (772) 800-2274 or send a message.
General information, not legal, tax, engineering, medical, lending or insurance advice, and not a guarantee of any price, fee, feature or outcome. NKBA figures are trade association recommendations, the Florida exhaust, plumbing and electrical code text for second kitchens was not read, and the Martin County permit list may not apply in every city or town; confirm with the building department, a licensed contractor or electrician, and a Florida real estate attorney for contract questions. References are as reviewed on October 24, 2026. William Merchant, REALTOR®, RE/MAX Gold. Each RE/MAX office is independently owned and operated. Equal Housing Opportunity.
Sources
- Merriam-Webster: butler's pantry, first known use 1721 (page last updated October 1, 2026; viewed October 24, 2026)
- Merriam-Webster: pantry, definition and etymology (undated, viewed October 24, 2026)
- Merriam-Webster: scullery, definition and first known use (undated, viewed October 24, 2026)
- Flagler Museum: Breakfast Room, Whitehall (undated; © 2026 Flagler Museum)
- Flagler Museum: Servants Room, Whitehall, northwest wing destroyed in 1925 (undated, viewed October 24, 2026)
- Biltmore: Exploring the Butler's Pantry (posted November 15, 2018, updated May 14, 2026)
- Florida Realtors/Florida Bar AS IS Residential Contract for Sale and Purchase, form ASIS-7x, paragraphs 1(c), 1(d), 1(e) and 12(b) (redlined PDF, Rev. 12/24 26)
- Florida Realtors: FinCEN rule, rider updates now in effect, ASIS-7x on Form Simplicity February 27 (February 26, 2026)
- RESO Data Dictionary 2.0: InteriorOrRoomFeatures lookup, Pantry, Wet Bar, Dry Bar, Dumbwaiter (generated October 19, 2026)
- RESO Data Dictionary 2.0: Appliances lookup (generated October 19, 2026)
- Rule 61-30.807, F.A.C., Standards of Practice, Interior Components (amended effective July 31, 2014; Cornell LII copy)
- Martin County: Do I Need a Building Permit?, Florida Building Code Section 105.2 (undated; © 2026 Martin County)
- Florida Building Code, Residential, 8th Edition (2023), Chapter 15 Exhaust Systems (ICC; text not readable when reviewed)
- NKBA: Kitchen Planning Guidelines with Access Standards (no edition date; posted May 2022; code references based on the 2015 IRC, the International Plumbing Code and ICC A117.1-2009)
- Tallahassee Magazine: The Dirt On Dirty Kitchens, by Liza Grant Smith (October 31, 2025; secondary)
- Angi: What Is a Scullery? Where You'll Find Them and How They're Used, by Mitchell Grant (updated July 9, 2026; secondary)
- MasterClass: Butler's Pantry: A Brief History of the Butler's Pantry (updated September 21, 2021; secondary)
