Addition permits in Kirkland: fees, timeline & requirements (2026)
Everything you need to know about pulling a home addition permit in Kirkland, Washington — when one is required, what it costs, how long review takes, what documents are required, and which inspections you can expect. Cited to Kirkland Planning and Building Department.
Free lookup, no account needed — your lot polygon, zoning, setbacks and overlays, cited to Kirkland's source.
When does a home addition need a permit in Kirkland?
A building permit is required to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, or change the use of a building. Whole-house ventilation compliance is required for new construction and additions greater than 500 square feet of heated space.
How long a home addition permit actually takes in Kirkland
53 permits with plan review issued in the last 12 months: half were issued within 142 days of application and 80% within 242.
Days from application to issue, measured by Kolmo from City of Kirkland single-family building permits (type BSF) on MyBuildingPermit.com.
From Kirkland's own code
“Any owner or owner’s authorized agent who intends to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish, or change the occupancy of a building or structure, or to erect, install, enlarge, alter, repair, remove, convert or replace any electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing system, the installation of which is regulated by this chapter or one of the technical codes, or to cause any such work to be performed, shall first make application to the building official and obtain the required permit.”Source ↗verified 2026-10-18
Required submittals
- Site plan with north arrow, property lines, setbacks, existing + proposed structures, lot coverage calculation
- Floor plan existing and proposed (dimensioned, 1/4" = 1' min)
- Elevations all affected sides (existing + proposed, height-to-grade)
- Foundation plan + footing details (if footprint addition)
- Framing plan (floor + roof + lateral)
- Wall section with insulation values per WSEC
- Structural calculations (when ≥500 sqft addition or out of IRC prescriptive envelope)
- WSEC compliance form (Energy Code Compliance Certificate)
- Manual J HVAC sizing calculation for new conditioned area
- Window/door schedule with NFRC U-factor and SHGC values
- Soils report if footing on slope or expansive soils
Inspection sequence
- Foundation/footing
- Plumbing rough-in
- Electrical rough-in
- Mechanical rough-in
- Framing
- Insulation
- Drywall
- Final
Contractor specialties needed
General contractor · Electrician (journey-level 01 or residential 02) · Plumber · Mechanical contractor
Who can do this work in Kirkland?
Kolmo Construction is a licensed Washington general contractor — KOLMOL*753JS, active through April 10, 2027, bonded and insured — working throughout Kirkland and King County. Kolmo prepares the drawings and submittals, files the home addition permit with Kirkland Planning and Building Department, carries the project through review and inspections, and performs the construction. Call (206) 410-5100 for a Kirkland home addition quote.
Notes & caveats
2021 IRC R301 governs framing. WSEC R402.1 sets envelope requirements. New conditioned space requires Manual J HVAC sizing. Lateral load path continuity required for vertical additions.
Addition permit fee estimate in Kirkland
Worked example for a $120,000 home addition project (building permit). Your actual fee scales with project valuation.
| Building permit fee | $1,784.40 |
| Plan review | $1,159.86 |
| Technology surcharge | $103.05 |
| WA state surcharge | $6.50 |
| Estimated total | $3,053.81 |
Kirkland prices an addition's building permit on the value of the work: $639 for the first $25,000 plus $17.46 for each $1,000 more up to $50,000, $1,048 for the first $50,000 plus $10.27 for each $1,000 more up to $100,000, and $1,620 for the first $100,000 plus $8.22 for each $1,000 more up to $1,000,000. Plan review is 65% of that fee, the energy code fee $101 plus 1 cent per square foot of heated or cooled space, and the state building code fee $6.50. For the remodel, plumbing is $30 for each new or moved fixture ($60 at the least, $358 at the most), mechanical $121 for each appliance, new duct system or gas piping ($364 at the most), and the City, not L&I, issues the electrical permit, priced on the value of the electrical work: $83 up to $250, $83 plus $12 for each $100 more up to $2,000, and $331 for the first $2,000 plus $30 for each $1,000 more up to $25,000. The City's park impact fee applies to every new net square foot added, at $5.18 a square foot up to $10,481.56 per house, and its fire impact fee at $0.75 a square foot of conditioned floor area up to $2,698.96 (July-December 2026). A 3.5% technology fee is added to the City's permit and plan review fees (Kirkland Building Services Fees, 2026). Apply via mybuildingpermit.com. Computed from Kirkland's adopted fee schedule · source ↗. Land use, fire and engineering review, intake, impact and utility fees, where they apply, are charged separately.
How to apply yourself
- 1. Confirm your parcel's zoning & overlays. Run an address lookup for your home addition in Kirkland — we'll pull your specific lot polygon, zoning, setbacks, and any shoreline, critical-area or historic overlays.
- 2. Assemble submittals: the 11 documents under Required submittals above.
- 3. Submit through the city portal: Kirkland Planning and Building Department ↗
- 4. Track review. Respond to reviewer comments promptly.
- 5. Pay issuance fees (about $3,054 for a $120,000 project) and pick up the permit. Inspection card travels with the job.
Or have Kolmo do it
Kolmo prepares the drawings and submittals, files with Kirkland Planning and Building Department, handles reviewer comments, and builds the project.
Licensed WA general contractor KOLMOL*753JS · bonded & insured
Addition permits in Kirkland — FAQ
When does a home addition need a permit in Kirkland?
A building permit is required to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, or change the use of a building. Whole-house ventilation compliance is required for new construction and additions greater than 500 square feet of heated space.
How much does a home addition permit cost in Kirkland?
For a $120,000 home addition project, the estimated Kirkland permit fee is about $3,053.81 (building fee $1,784.40 + plan review $1,159.86 + surcharges) from Kirkland's adopted fee schedule. Land use, fire and engineering review, intake, impact and utility fees, where they apply, are charged separately.
How long does it actually take to get a home addition permit in Kirkland?
53 permits with plan review issued in the last 12 months: half were issued within 142 days of application and 80% within 242. Measured by Kolmo from City of Kirkland single-family building permits (type BSF) on MyBuildingPermit.com.