Quick answer: As ICI Homes, a Florida builder, uses the terms, a summer kitchen is "a covered outdoor cooking and dining area" on the lanai, with a sample setup of a built-in grill, countertop, under-counter refrigerator and small sink, and a cabana bath, also called a pool bath, is "a full bathroom with interior and exterior access, usually at the back of the house." The national MLS standard has no "Summer Kitchen" or "Cabana Bath" value, so look for "Outdoor Kitchen," "Built-in Barbecue" or "Cabana" and confirm in person. Martin County lists outdoor kitchens and gas lines among work that needs a permit, and chapter 527, Florida Statutes, requires a license to install gas piping and appliances. Two of the five pool safety options in s. 515.27 cover doors with direct access from the home to the pool, so ask the building department which option a pool was permitted under and whether the cabana bath door meets it. Under the Florida Realtors/Florida Bar AS IS contract, built-in appliances are part of the Real Property unless excluded, but grills are not named, so write a freestanding grill into the contract.
Summer kitchen and cabana bath name two rooms where the house meets the pool deck, and the national MLS standard has a value for neither. Here is what each one is, and the permit, gas, electrical and pool questions to ask.
What is a summer kitchen in Florida?
The older meaning is a separate building. Merriam-Webster defines a summer kitchen as "a small building or shed that is usually adjacent to a house and is used as a kitchen in warm weather," and the page shows a first known use of 1632.
One Florida builder uses it for an outdoor cooking area on the lanai rather than a separate building. ICI Homes, a Daytona Beach builder, wrote on July 17, 2020 that "The summer kitchen incorporates a covered outdoor cooking and dining area," with a sample setup of "a built-in grill flanked by a handy countertop, under-the-counter fridge and small sink." It calls the lanai "a covered outdoor living area." I found no Treasure Coast or Palm Beach County builder glossary that defines the term.
What is a cabana bath or pool bath?
ICI Homes (February 11, 2019) describes a cabana bath, "Also called a pool bath," as "a full bathroom with interior and exterior access, usually at the back of the house." Its point is that people in wet bathing suits "don't have to track through the house."
In the national MLS standard, "Cabana" describes a structure, not a bathroom: RESO's "Cabana" value ("The property includes a cabana.") sits in its Other Structures list, beside "Pool House" and "Guest House." If a listing checks "Cabana," ask which one it means. Separate buildings raise their own zoning questions, covered in my post on guest houses in Florida.
How do MLS listings label a summer kitchen?
The RESO Data Dictionary 2.0 is the national standard MLS systems map their fields to. On its lookup pages generated October 19, 2026, I found no "Summer Kitchen," "Cabana Bath" or "Pool Bath" value in the Exterior Features or Other Structures lists. These are the closest:
| RESO list | Value | RESO's definition |
|---|---|---|
| Exterior Features | Outdoor Kitchen | "The property has an outdoor kitchen." |
| Exterior Features | Built-in Barbecue | "The property has a built-in outdoor barbeque." |
| Exterior Features | Gas Grill; Outdoor Grill | "The property has an outdoor gas grill."; "The property has an outdoor grill." |
| Other Structures | Outdoor Kitchen; Cabana | "The property includes an outdoor kitchen."; "The property includes a cabana." |
So a listing has to say "summer kitchen" or "cabana bath" in words, and I confirm both in person. RESO has a separate "Built-in Barbecue" value, while "Gas Grill" and "Outdoor Grill" do not say whether the grill is built in, and built in or not is the question the contract turns on.
Does the summer kitchen stay with the house?
In the Florida Realtors/Florida Bar AS IS Residential Contract for Sale and Purchase, form ASIS-7x (as posted in February 2026), paragraph 1(c), Real Property, 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), Personal Property, names items including "range(s)/oven(s), refrigerator(s)" and "storm shutters/storm protection items and hardware," and 1(e) reads "The following items are excluded from the purchase:"
The form does not define "built-in" and does not name grills, outdoor refrigerators or patio furniture. Reading the text, a built-in grill, built-in outdoor refrigerator and cabinetry fit 1(c). A freestanding grill is not on the 1(d) list, so a buyer who expects it writes it on the line "Other Personal Property items included in this purchase are:" and a seller who plans to take anything lists it in 1(e). That is a reading of the form, not legal advice; a Florida real estate attorney can review a specific contract.
Does an outdoor kitchen need a permit?
In Martin County, yes. The county's "Do I Need a Permit?" page (undated, read October 24, 2026) lists "Outdoor Kitchens," "Gas Lines," "Electrical panels, Circuits," "Patios and/or Patio Covers and Roofs" and "Swimming pools and spas" among work needing a permit, and "Appliance Replacement (plug in)" and "Cabinetry" as exempt. It says the lists are not complete and points to Florida Building Code Section 105.2 and the Building Department at (772) 288-5916.
Martin County's Gas Tank-Line Checklist (marked "Revised 2-26") asks for a permit application, a survey or site plan, the county's gas checklist and a "Gas Piping Schematic with details of appliance types and sizes, pipe lengths and sizes." If the outdoor kitchen has a gas line, ask for that permit and schematic. I did not find a St. Lucie County or Palm Beach County page that names outdoor kitchens, so for a home there, ask the local building department.
Who can install a gas line to an outdoor kitchen?
Under s. 527.02(1), 2026 Florida Statutes, it is unlawful to engage in the activities defined in s. 527.01(6) through (11) "without first obtaining from the department a license," and doing so intentionally or willfully is a third-degree felony. For a Category I liquefied petroleum gas dealer, s. 527.01(6) covers "designing, installing, servicing, altering, or modifying apparatus, piping, tubing, appliances, and equipment for the use of liquefied petroleum or natural gas," and s. 527.01(10) covers similar work by a Category V LP gas installer. Ask who installed the piping and for the license.
Do outdoor kitchen outlets need GFCI protection?
Charlotte County's building codes page lists the 8th Edition (2023) of the Florida Building Code and the 2020 National Electrical Code as effective from December 31, 2023, the editions in effect as of October 24, 2026. The Florida Building Commission's October 2026 workplan lists the 9th Edition (2026) effective date as December 31, 2026, so ask the building department which edition applied when the work was permitted. Laura Hildreth's IAEI Magazine summary (February 6, 2020) says 2020 NEC section 210.8(A) requires GFCI protection for 125 through 250 volt receptacles on single-phase branch circuits rated 150 volts or less to ground in listed dwelling locations, including outdoors (210.8(A)(3)), bathrooms (210.8(A)(1)), kitchens (210.8(A)(6)) and sinks (210.8(A)(7)). That is a summary; I did not read the code text. Ask a licensed electrician to confirm the protection at the summer kitchen and in the cabana bath.
Can you use a grill under a covered lanai?
Here the sources pull in different directions. The Consumer Product Safety Commission's gas grill fact sheet (Publication 467) says to "use the grill at least 10 feet away from your house or any building," to "Never use a grill indoors due to carbon monoxide (CO) and fire hazards," and "Do not use the grill in a garage, breezeway, carport, porch, or under a surface that will burn." ICI Homes puts the summer kitchen on a covered lanai.
The CPSC sheet is general gas grill guidance and does not address a permitted, built-in outdoor kitchen under a lanai roof, and I found no code or authoritative source giving clearances for that setup. Check the permit record, get the grill maker's installation instructions, and ask the building department. The same sheet says to test connections with "a soapy solution (one part water, one part liquid detergent)": "If bubbles appear, there is a leak."
Why does a cabana bath door matter for pool safety?
Under s. 515.27(1), 2026 Florida Statutes, "In order to pass final inspection and receive a certificate of completion, a residential swimming pool must meet at least one of" five options: an enclosure meeting s. 515.29, an approved safety pool cover, exit alarms, self-closing doors, or a pool alarm certified to ASTM F2208. The two door options read:
| Option | What s. 515.27(1) says |
|---|---|
| (c) Exit alarms | "All doors and windows providing direct access from the home to the pool must be equipped with an exit alarm that has a minimum sound pressure rating of 85 dB A at 10 feet" |
| (d) Self-closing doors | "All doors providing direct access from the home to the pool must be equipped with a self-closing, self-latching device with a release mechanism placed no lower than 54 inches above the floor" |
Section 515.29(4) adds that a wall of the house "may serve as part of the barrier if it does not contain any door or window that opens to provide access to the swimming pool."
A cabana bath's exterior door onto the pool deck is a door in the wall of the house. Reading these sections, that makes it a question for the building official: which option was the pool permitted under, and does that door have the alarm or self-closing, self-latching hardware the option requires? The statute ties these features to final inspection, and I found no section that addresses existing pools at resale. My guide to buying a Florida home with a pool covers the rest.
What happens to the summer kitchen before a hurricane?
The two county guides I read do not agree:
| Item | Martin County Emergency Management, "The Road to Readiness Guide" | St. Lucie County, "Are You Ready for a Hurricane?" |
|---|---|---|
| Grills and tanks | "Anchor storage sheds and objects that are unsafe to bring inside, like gas grills or propane tanks." | "Bring outdoor furniture, wind chimes, flags, trash cans, grills and antennas indoors." |
| Pool water | "Do not drain or partially drain your pool before a storm." | "Lower the water level by six inches to one foot, but no more than two feet to allow for heavy rains." |
Follow your own county's emergency management guide; these two are Martin County's and St. Lucie County's. Ask the seller how a built-in grill is secured before a storm, and whether the lanai has storm shutters or other storm protection items, which 1(d) includes.
How to check a summer kitchen and cabana bath at a showing
- Match the listing's words to what is there, and ask whether "Cabana" means a structure or a bath.
- Note what is built in and what is freestanding, and write freestanding items you expect into the contract.
- Ask for the permit history: outdoor kitchen, gas line, new circuits, patio cover.
- Ask who installed the gas piping, and for that installer's license.
- Have a licensed electrician confirm GFCI protection outdoors and in the cabana bath.
- Get the grill maker's installation instructions for a grill under the lanai roof.
- Find which pool safety option the pool was permitted under, and check the cabana bath door's hardware.
- Ask the seller's storm plan for grills, tanks and furniture.
More guides to rooms in luxury homes: butler's pantry vs butler's kitchen, the butler's room and staff quarters, wine rooms and wine cellars, primary suite morning kitchens and dressing rooms, safe rooms, home theater vs media room and home wellness rooms.
Questions people ask about summer kitchens and cabana baths
What is a summer kitchen in Florida?
As ICI Homes, a Florida builder, used the term in 2020, it is a covered outdoor cooking and dining area on the lanai, with a sample setup of a built-in grill, countertop, under-counter fridge and small sink. The dictionary meaning is older: a small building or shed near a house used as a kitchen in warm weather.
What is a cabana bath?
A full bathroom with interior and exterior access, usually at the back of the house, also called a pool bath (ICI Homes, 2019). It is not the same as a cabana, which the national MLS standard lists as a structure.
Does an outdoor kitchen need a permit in Martin County?
Yes. Martin County's permit page lists Outdoor Kitchens and Gas Lines among work that needs a permit; the Building Department's number is (772) 288-5916.
Does a pool bath door need an alarm in Florida?
To pass final inspection, a residential pool must meet at least one of the safety options in s. 515.27. Two cover doors with direct access from the home to the pool: an exit alarm rated at least 85 dB A at 10 feet, or a self-closing, self-latching device with its release no lower than 54 inches above the floor, so ask the building department which option the pool was permitted under.
Does the grill stay with the house?
Under the Florida Realtors/Florida Bar AS IS contract, built-in appliances are part of the Real Property unless excluded in paragraph 1(e). Grills are not named in paragraph 1, so write a freestanding grill on the Other Personal Property line in paragraph 1(d).
Can I use a grill on a covered lanai?
The CPSC's gas grill fact sheet says to use a grill at least 10 feet from the house and not on a porch or under a surface that will burn, but it does not address permitted built-in outdoor kitchens. Check the permit record and the grill maker's installation instructions, and ask the building department.
Talk with William. Looking at a home with a summer kitchen or cabana bath, or getting one ready to list? Send me the address or listing link, and I will request the permit history on the outdoor kitchen, gas line and pool, ask the building department which pool safety option the pool was permitted under, and list the outdoor items to name in the contract. 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. The GFCI points come from a trade magazine's summary of the 2020 NEC, the cabana bath door question is a reading of chapter 515 for the building official to answer for a given pool, and no source gave clearances for grills under covered lanais; confirm permits with the building department, electrical work with a licensed electrician, gas work with a licensed installer, and contract terms with a Florida real estate attorney. 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
- Florida Statutes 515.27, residential swimming pool safety feature options (2026)
- Florida Statutes 515.29, residential swimming pool barrier requirements (2026)
- Florida Statutes 527.01, definitions, Category I and Category V LP gas licenses (2026)
- Florida Statutes 527.02, license required (2026)
- Martin County: Do I Need a Permit? (undated, viewed October 24, 2026)
- Martin County: Gas Tank-Line Checklist (marked Revised 2-26)
- Martin County Emergency Management: The Road to Readiness Guide (undated, viewed October 24, 2026)
- St. Lucie County: Are You Ready for a Hurricane? (undated, viewed October 24, 2026)
- Charlotte County: Building codes, Florida Building Code 8th Edition (2023) and 2020 NEC effective December 31, 2023 (undated, viewed October 24, 2026)
- Florida Building Commission: Workplan, 9th Edition (2026) Florida Building Code effective date December 31, 2026 (October 2026)
- U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission: Gas Grill fact sheet, Publication 467 (marked RV 012013)
- Florida Realtors/Florida Bar: AS IS Residential Contract for Sale and Purchase, form ASIS-7x, redline, paragraphs 1(c), 1(d) and 1(e) (posted February 2026)
- RESO Data Dictionary 2.0: ExteriorFeatures lookup (generated October 19, 2026)
- RESO Data Dictionary 2.0: OtherStructures lookup (generated October 19, 2026)
- Merriam-Webster: summer kitchen (viewed October 24, 2026)
- ICI Homes: Why You Need (and Want!) a Summer Kitchen, by Duane Kennerson (July 17, 2020; builder, secondary)
- ICI Homes: Entertainment-Friendly Ideas for Your New Florida Home, by Duane Kennerson (February 11, 2019; builder, secondary)
- IAEI Magazine: NEC Requirements for GFCI Protection: Section 210.8, by Laura Hildreth (February 6, 2020; trade association, secondary)
