Home Remodeling in Kirkland

22.6 percent of Kirkland homes date from the 1970s

Kirkland had 41,096 housing units in the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey. The 1970s account for 9,289 of them, more than any other decade, and the median home was built in 1984. Only 972 predate 1940. A 1970s house tends to arrive with original single-pane windows, thin wall insulation and an electrical panel sized for fewer appliances, so a kitchen or bath job here often grows into windows, insulation and a panel upgrade once the walls are open.

Source: Census ACS 2020-2024, Year Structure Built, Kirkland

Kirkland maps where its slopes can slide

The city publishes a landslide susceptibility map showing ground prone to deep and shallow slides inside city limits. Its emergency management office says slides hit steep slopes, ground near drainage ways and natural erosion valleys, and can be set off by earthquakes, severe weather, fire or human activity. Warning signs it lists include leaning trees, cracking foundations and water appearing on a slope. The city suggests a professional ground assessment if you are worried, and cutting trees in a landslide hazard area takes a permit.

Source: City of Kirkland Office of Emergency Management, Landslides

Kirkland regulates any tree 6 inches across or larger

Under chapter 95 of the zoning code, a regulated tree is one whose trunk measures 6 inches or more across at chest height, 4.5 feet up. A lot up to 10,000 square feet may remove two in 12 months and must keep at least two; lots up to 20,000 square feet may remove three, and larger lots four. Every removal still needs a notice filed through MyBuildingPermit.com. Landmark trees, 26 inches and up, need a permit, are limited to one a year and must be replaced with three new trees.

Source: City of Kirkland, Summary of Private Property Tree Regulations (KZC 95)

How much does it cost to build an ADU in Kirkland?

Kirkland does not publish declared permit values, so the clearest local numbers are fees. Complete ADU applications received on or after July 1, 2026 pay park, fire and transportation impact fees unless the unit is 800 square feet or less. A new three-quarter inch water meter carries a regional capital facilities charge of $8,852 in 2026. Local tile setters earned a median $38.00 an hour in May 2025.

What remodeling work needs a permit in Kirkland?

Often, yes. Kirkland requires permits for new window or door openings, water heaters, decks over 30 inches and reroofs that touch the sheathing. Like-for-like fixture swaps, nonstructural siding, same-size windows, sheds up to 200 square feet and fences up to 6 feet are exempt. Every application goes through MyBuildingPermit.com.

Can I remove a tree on my Kirkland lot without a permit?

You need at least a notice. Kirkland requires a Tree Removal Notification through MyBuildingPermit.com for any tree removal. Lots up to 10,000 square feet can remove two regulated trees, 6 inches or wider, in 12 months. Landmark trees of 26 inches or more, and trees in wetlands, landslide areas, shoreline setbacks or the Holmes Point Overlay, need a permit.

How many ADUs can I build in Kirkland?

Two per lot, attached or detached, except in the Residential-L Shoreline area, where only one is allowed. Each can be up to 1,200 square feet, and the planning director can approve more for an attached unit on a single floor of the house. No parking is required within half a mile of a major transit stop. Kirkland issued 86 ADU permits between March 2024 and February 2025.

Is my Kirkland property in a landslide area?

Check the city's landslide susceptibility map, which shows ground prone to deep and shallow slides. Kirkland's emergency management office says slides affect steep slopes, drainage ways and erosion valleys. It lists leaning trees, cracking foundations and unexpected water on a slope as warning signs and suggests a professional ground assessment. Removing trees in a landslide hazard area needs a permit.