Propane is what Legacy builds around for built-in grills. A propane grill with the tank stored inside the island cooks the same way and needs no gas line. Running a natural-gas line to the island requires a permit, and that work is outside the projects we take on.
With propane, the island is framed with a separate vented compartment that holds a standard tank, with its own access door so you can swap or refill it easily. The tank stays out of sight, and side burners and pizza ovens on the island run on propane as well. Because nothing has to be trenched or piped to the island, it can sit wherever the layout works best on your patio, and the slab does not have to be cut to reach it.
Natural gas means a permanent line from the house meter or existing piping to the island. That is permit work with inspections, and it is outside the scope Legacy takes on. We keep our projects within the scope that does not require a building permit, and we tell you at the first visit if what you have in mind would need one. If a natural-gas hookup is a must for you, that part would need to be handled separately under a permit.
The main trade-off with propane is convenience: you will swap or refill a tank now and then, while natural gas is always on. Many homeowners find the tank swap a small task given how little it adds to the project. One thing to settle early is that grills are built for one fuel or the other, so the fuel has to be chosen before the appliance is ordered and the island cutouts are set.
Answered by Legacy Construction & Design · CA License #790442 · October 2026