This is a code issue, so rules will vary by location--just because something is okay in Miami doesn't mean it is okay in Seattle.

My in-laws, in Oakland, CA, had to deal with this. Their shut-off valve is behind a cabinet door next to the range, but not buried at the back of the cabinet--you open the door, and it is right there.

Our shut off valve is not in a cabinet, but sits behind our stove. Take a look at the manual for your stove and see what the specs are. Ours has an opening in the back, kind of where the bottom drawer is on the front, and so there's a lot of extra space back there. The gas shut off just sort of sits in that gap. But cawaps is absolutely correct about it being a code issue and you should check with your local code enforcement dept. I'm in north-central FL, if that helps.

Chances are good you are not going to be able to slide out a +300lb stove to reach that valve in a hurry. Accessible means that you can reach it, not that you have to see it. But as stated, it is the local inspector you need to worry about.

I've seen folks put them in the cabinet, behind a drawer, or even cut a hole in the side of the cabinet so the valve could be reached if it were behind the stove.

Thanks - we are in KY if anybody has any insight into our codes...

It also depends on your city inspector...funnily enough we are also in Oakland, CA but our inspector was fine with having the shutoff behind the range since we have a freestanding range that can be pulled out readily. (He considered that accessible, but did note that it wouldn't be considered accessible if moving the range was difficult for a single person to do...ours is a vintage stove so it's pretty easy, if annoying, to pull out.) Our cabinetmaker suggested putting it behind a drawer in an adjacent cabinet---he builds slightly shorter drawers for that purpose in cities that require it---but in the end we didn't need to. (You could also put it in a cabinet.) California code is pretty vague and just says it must be "accessible," though---other states/cities may have much more specific requirements.

It seems that it is pretty common to put it in a cabinet next to the range. When that cabinet has drawers, it might be behind a drawer with the drawer shortened to allow space for it. There is usually a a couple of inches of dead space behind the drawers so the drawer doesn't have to be shortened by much and it doesn't have to be shortened all the way across - the back of the drawer box could just step in to allow space where the valve needs it.

A drawer (or a couple of drawers to allow shoulder room) can be taken out pretty quickly - probably more quickly than the range can be pulled out.

If the valve can be behind the range right next to the cabinet wall, an opening in the cabinet wall could allow access without pulling out the range and without needing to notch a drawer.

There was one person who had a valve with a flat face and a hole that operates with a key (like is often used in the floor to turn on and off gas for a fireplace) mounted in the face frame of a cabinet below her rangetop. I wonder if it would be acceptable to mount a valve like that on the wall so that it is operated from the other side of the wall.

Our gas rangetop is in our island. We have a 12" deep cabinet behind the cabinet with the rangetop so we routed the gas pipe through that and put the valve there. It is out of the way not in our prime storage area but easy to reach.

Once you are prepared with ideas, you should talk to your GC directly. If he is any good, he should know what the local code and inspectors are likely to accept. You can bounce some ideas around.

Our pro Rangetop was just installed yesterday. We had to have 2 shut offs due to accessibility issues--one went on the wall under the rangetop behind the drawers that are under the rangetop (probably similar in placement to where they would put it for a range). The 2nd shutoff went into a cabinet (in the island) directly across from the rangetop. I was told the one under the range was code, period, but as it wasn't "easily accessible" the 2nd one had to be installed. Both are concealed from view unless you pull the drawer out or open the cabinet. We're located in central NC, so code could be different in your area, but what they required made sense to me. Hope this helps!

I'm in Canada and mine is in my basement where the gas line branches off of the main one. Since you're in KY, I assume you have a basement. Can't it go in your utility room where it will always be easily accessible. In the event that the gas to my stove needs to be shut off in a hurry due to my stove being on fire or something, I think I would rather run to the basement than try and get into a cabinet next to something that could burn me. Just a thought.

Code in most places requires a master shutoff valve usually near the gas meter. If your range catches fire, you want to run out of the house and call 911 - not try to shut off the gas. The issue of accessibility is so the gas company/repairmen can turn off the gas when working on the range.

Ours is near the range, in the lower cabinet left of range. Bottom pull-out is a tad shallow in order to accommodate.

Here is a link that might be useful: my kitchen

"Chances are good you are not going to be able to slide out a +300lb stove to reach that valve in a hurry. "

The valve at the appliance is not an emergency valve, it is a maintenance valve.

The emergency valve is the one outside at the gas meter.

No one is going to stay in a house with a gas leak or fire to turn off gas connections.

Go out to the meter and shut it ALL off.

Ours was in the basement directly below the stove...
We changed to induction this year and moved the old stove to the basement in case we lose power. When Irene hit us last week we lost power for a day . Didn't we feel smart...

Yeah, I guess I wasn't thinking when I made my post.

If there's an issue with gas, get out.

My shutoff (for maintenance) is in my basement. It is for all of my gas appliances.