Electrical permits in Kirkland: fees, timeline & requirements (2026)
Everything you need to know about pulling an electrical 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 — the office that issues the permit at your address, the mapped areas on the lot, cited to Kirkland's source.
When does electrical work need a permit in Kirkland?
Kirkland issues its own electrical permits — from the City's building official, not WA L&I. KMC 21.06.205 requires anyone who intends to install, alter, repair, remove, convert or replace any electrical system to "first make application to the building official and obtain the required permit", and KMC 21.06.210 requires an electrical permit, in accordance with chapter 19.28 RCW, for "The installation, alteration, repair, replacement, modification or maintenance of all electrical systems, wire and electrical equipment regardless of voltage." Kirkland adopts the Washington Cities Electrical Code as the Kirkland Electrical Code (KMC 21.70.010). Exempt under KMC 21.06.215(2) include portable cord-and-plug equipment, temporary decorative lighting for up to 90 days, and like-in-kind repair or replacement in the same location of fixed motors, transformers, appliances and devices rated 50 amps or less, of current-carrying parts of switches and control devices, of plugs and receptacles rated 50 amps or less, and of overcurrent devices. Those exemptions do not apply in areas of flood hazard, in city land use critical areas and their required buffers, or where the International Wildland-Urban Interface Code applies (KMC 21.06.215).
From Kirkland's own code
“In accordance with Chapter 19.28 RCW, an electrical permit is required for the following installations: (1) The installation, alteration, repair, replacement, modification or maintenance of all electrical systems, wire and electrical equipment regardless of voltage.”Source ↗verified 2026-09-25
What Kirkland says in its own permit handout
From electrical plan review submittal guide, published by Kirkland. This is the jurisdiction's own guidance on its permit process, not the ordinance text — where the two differ, the code governs.
“All applicants for a City of Kirkland electrical permit are required to complete an electrical permit application online at MyBuildingPermit.com. Please provide a specific description of the work to be completed.”Checklist ↗read 2026-09-05
Required submittals
- Scope description
- Load calc for service changes
- Panel schedule for new panels
Inspection sequence
- Rough-in
- Service inspection (if applicable)
- Final
Contractor specialties needed
Electrician (journey-level 01 or residential 02)
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 manages the electrical job from start to finish: a licensed electrical contractor performs the work and the permit, and Kolmo coordinates the scope, schedule, inspections and any related construction. Call (206) 410-5100 for a Kirkland electrical quote.
Notes & caveats
Apply online at MyBuildingPermit.com (Kirkland's Electrical Plan Review Submittal Guide). That guide lists the installations that need electrical plan review — among them multifamily of three units and larger, and all wind, solar or fuel cell installations, residential included. The WA electrical contractor license (L&I specialty 01 or 02) still governs who may do the work: L&I licenses the contractor, the City issues the permit. Service upgrade: load calc per NEC 220. EV charger ≥40A: dedicated circuit + GFCI. AFCI required on most habitable-space circuits (NEC 210.12).
How to apply yourself
- 1. Check who issues the permit. Run an address lookup for your electrical work in Kirkland — we'll confirm which office issues the permit at that address and whether the lot is in a critical area or a flood hazard area, which Kirkland's rule turns on.
- 2. Assemble submittals: the 3 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 (Kirkland's fee schedule sets them) and pick up the permit. Inspection card travels with the job.
Or have Kolmo do it
Kolmo runs the job: a licensed electrical contractor does the electrical work and pulls the permit, and Kolmo coordinates the scope, schedule, inspections and any related construction.
Licensed WA general contractor KOLMOL*753JS · bonded & insured
Electrical permits in Kirkland — FAQ
When does electrical work need a permit in Kirkland?
Kirkland issues its own electrical permits — from the City's building official, not WA L&I. KMC 21.06.205 requires anyone who intends to install, alter, repair, remove, convert or replace any electrical system to "first make application to the building official and obtain the required permit", and KMC 21.06.210 requires an electrical permit, in accordance with chapter 19.28 RCW, for "The installation, alteration, repair, replacement, modification or maintenance of all electrical systems, wire and electrical equipment regardless of voltage." Kirkland adopts the Washington Cities Electrical Code as the Kirkland Electrical Code (KMC 21.70.010). Exempt under KMC 21.06.215(2) include portable cord-and-plug equipment, temporary decorative lighting for up to 90 days, and like-in-kind repair or replacement in the same location of fixed motors, transformers, appliances and devices rated 50 amps or less, of current-carrying parts of switches and control devices, of plugs and receptacles rated 50 amps or less, and of overcurrent devices. Those exemptions do not apply in areas of flood hazard, in city land use critical areas and their required buffers, or where the International Wildland-Urban Interface Code applies (KMC 21.06.215).
How much does an electrical permit cost in Kirkland?
Kirkland issues its own electrical permits, not L&I. Work on an existing house is priced on the value of the electrical work: $83 up to $250, $83 plus $12 for each $100 more up to $2,000, $331 for the first $2,000 plus $30 for each $1,000 more up to $25,000, and $1,032 for the first $25,000 plus $28 for each $1,000 more up to $50,000. A new house's electrical permit is 9.5% of its building permit fee. A pool, hot tub or spa is $148, and temporary construction power up to 200 amps $121. Where plans are reviewed, plan review is 33% of the permit fee. A 3.5% technology fee is added to the City's permit and plan review fees (Kirkland Building Services Fees, 2026). Apply via https://mybuildingpermit.com.