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Building Permit in Kirkland, Washington

Required for construction in Kirkland. The city adopts the 2021 IBC by name but replaces the model code's administrative chapter with its own Construction Administrative Code, which sets out the permit, fee and inspection procedure in detail.

Reviewed 2026-09-16 · Source

When you need this permit

  • Built to the 2021 Edition of the International Building Code as adopted by the State Building Code Council, excluding IBC Chapter 1
  • Procedure is governed by KMC Chapter 21.06, not by IBC Chapter 1
  • Plan review fees are payable when submittal documents are submitted
  • The inspection sequence in KMC Chapter 21.06 Article IX applies

Required documents

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Fee schedule

Building permit fee
KIRKLAND'S PERMIT FEE AMOUNTS ARE NOT IN ITS CODE. Show full citationKIRKLAND'S PERMIT FEE AMOUNTS ARE NOT IN ITS CODE. KMC 21.06.390 provides that on the listed work "a fee for each permit shall be paid as required, in accordance with the schedule as established by the Kirkland city council" - so the schedule is a council document outside the code. TWO PROCEDURAL FEE RULES ARE IN THE CODE: plan review fees are payable "at the time of submitting the submittal documents for plan review" (KMC 21.06.395), and "The building official may have the option to charge a deposit, in lieu of the full plan review fee, if the full amount is not known at the time", with the deposit applied against the eventual fee. The chapter also carries sections on related fees, refunds and address change compensation.
Not stated in this guide - see notes

Review timeline

Plan review
Not published — contact the department

How long did your Building Permit permit actually take in Kirkland?

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Inspection process

  1. 1

    Footing and foundation inspection

    KMC 21.06.440: made "after poles or piers are set or trenches or basement areas are excavated and all required hold-down anchor bolts, hold-down straps, any forms erected" and other required items are in place.

  2. 2

    Concrete slab and under-floor inspection

    KMC 21.06.445: made "after in-slab or under-floor reinforcing steel and building service equipment, conduit, slab insulation, piping accessories and other ancillary equipment" are in place.

  3. 3

    Exterior wall sheathing inspection

    KMC 21.06.455: "Exterior wall sheathing shall be inspected after all wall framing is complete, strapping and nailing is properly installed, but prior to being covered."

  4. 4

    Roof sheathing inspection

    KMC 21.06.460: "The roof sheathing shall be inspected after all roof framing is complete. No roof coverings shall be installed until inspections are made and approved."

  5. 5

    IMC/UPC/GAS/NEC rough in inspection

    KMC 21.06.465: "Rough in mechanical, gas piping, plumbing and electrical shall be inspected when the rough in work is complete and, if required, under test. No connections to primary utilities shall be made until the rough in work" is approved.

  6. 6

    Frame inspection

    KMC 21.06.470: made "after the roof deck or sheathing, all framing, fire blocking and bracing are in place and pipes, chimneys and vents to be concealed are complete" and the rough electrical, plumbing and fire suppression work is in place.

  7. 7

    Flashing and exterior weather barrier inspection

    KMC 21.06.475: made "after flashing and weather barrier materials have been installed, but prior to any of the work being covered."

  8. 8

    Energy code inspection

    KMC 21.06.490: required IN ADDITION to the inspections required by Chapters 51-11C and 51-11R WAC, and includes verifying footing and/or foundation insulation R-values.

  9. 9

    Final inspection

    KMC 21.06.515: "The final inspection shall be made after all work required by the permit(s) is completed."

See the full Kirkland inspection guide — scheduling & re-inspection fees →

Tips

  • Do not cover sheathing, flashing or weather barrier before its inspection - the code states each is inspected prior to cover
  • Roof coverings cannot be installed, and utilities cannot be connected, until the relevant inspection is approved
  • The energy code inspection is in addition to the state-required inspections

Frequently asked questions

Kirkland requires a building permit for: Built to the 2021 Edition of the International Building Code as adopted by the State Building Code Council, excluding IBC Chapter 1; Procedure is governed by KMC Chapter 21.06, not by IBC Chapter 1; Plan review fees are payable when submittal documents are submitted; The inspection sequence in KMC Chapter 21.06 Article IX applies. If your project isn't listed, confirm with City of Kirkland - Planning and Building Department at 425-587-3000 before starting work.

In Kirkland, the published Building permit fee is: Not stated in this guide - see notes. These are the jurisdiction's own published figures — see the fee schedule table and source citations on this page.

Kirkland does not publish a plan-review timeline for this permit. Contact City of Kirkland - Planning and Building Department at 425-587-3000 for current turnaround.

You'll need: Submittal documents. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

KMC Chapter 21.06 Article IX sets an ordered sequence: footing and foundation; concrete slab and under-floor; exterior wall sheathing; roof sheathing; IMC/UPC/GAS/NEC rough in; frame; flashing and exterior weather barrier; energy code; and final. Each has its own trigger in the code - several are explicitly 'prior to being covered', and roof coverings and utility connections are blocked until the relevant inspection is approved.

Apply through City of Kirkland - Planning and Building Department. Phone: 425-587-3000. Official information: https://www.kirklandwa.gov/.

The 2021 Edition of the International Building Code, as adopted by the State Building Code Council in Chapter 51-50 WAC, excluding Chapter 1 on Administration. Kirkland's own Construction Administrative Code at KMC Chapter 21.06 is used in place of that chapter, so the procedural rules are local.

Sources & verification

Key facts verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-09-16.

Codes & ordinances

Fees, timelines, and adopted codes are researched from each jurisdiction's published records — see how we verify. Requirements change and vary by project, so always confirm the current details with the Kirkland building department before you submit. PermitBase is an independent reference and is not affiliated with any government agency.

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