Does an outdoor kitchen have to be covered by insurance?

If you’re looking into adding an outdoor kitchen to your home, you already know that they add beauty to your backyard, and provide an extra entertaining space that allows you to stay with your guests instead of running in and out of your house while you’re preparing a meal. You also know they help increase the value of your home, and a quality outdoor kitchen will be enjoyed by your family for years to come. However, you might wonder about insurance requirements. Does your homeowners insurance extend to your grill, your outdoor refrigerator, or a firepit? Let’s take a look.

Homeowners Insurance for outdoor kitchens

You already have a homeowners insurance policy. Your home is your biggest investment, and insurance will cover you if there’s a problem, including fire, wind and hail, and it often also has personal liability, which will cover you in case you or a family member inflicts injury or property damage to other people, and no-fault medical coverage, in case someone gets hurt while on your property.

While your original homeowners policy often extends to cover other structures on your property, that figure can be limited to a certain amount — often 10 percent of the amount of insurance you have on your dwelling. “Other structures” will include a detached garage, a gazebo, your fence, a shed, a dog kennel — and your outdoor kitchen.

Adding additional coverage

When you consider the value of your other structures (in other words, your outdoor kitchen), you’ll want to first speak with an insurance professional to determine if you have coverage that extends beyond your home, and if so, what that dollar amount is. If your outdoor assets do cost more than 10 percent of your home’s insurance value, for example, you’ll likely want to get additional coverage for your outdoor kitchen to make sure everything is A-OK in the event of a covered loss.

This is a smart idea any time you’re making improvements to your property. Outdoor kitchens are an amazing way to bump up your home’s value and to add more entertaining space that keeps guests comfortable and well fed, but this added value will need to be checked against your existing homeowners insurance policy.

Get started with an outdoor kitchen

Outdoor kitchens and firepits are a fun way to bring friends and family together while improving the look of your backyard. There are appliances and builds that fit every budget, and we’ll work carefully with you to plan out an outdoor kitchen that makes the best use of your space. Get your creative juices flowing by taking a look at some inspiration!

There’s never a bad time to consult with your insurance agent, but once we get an estimate put together, you’ll have a better idea of what to expect and your agent can compare its value to your current coverage. You can alter your existing coverage to ensure your new, gorgeous outdoor kitchen is covered in case of an adverse event, so you can prepare food and entertain your guests with no worries.