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Plumbing permits in Kirkland: fees, timeline & requirements (2026)

Everything you need to know about pulling a plumbing 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.

Look up your Kirkland address

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.

Permit required?
Permit if: plumbing work beyond a leak repair, a fixture reinstall or a same-spot fixture swap · a valve replaced or moved · water heater replaced · a fixture added or moved · new or relocated piping · a concealed trap, drain or vent pipe replaced · in a critical area or its required buffer · in a flood hazard area · in a wildland-urban interface (WUI) location.
Permit fee
Kirkland's plumbing permit fees are the City's, not a Public Health fee: on an existing house, $30 for each new or moved fixture and $30 per dwelling unit for re-piping the water lines, $60 at the least and $358 at the most; for new construction, 8% of the building permit fee.
Review timeline
Not published by the city

When does plumbing work need a permit in Kirkland?

Kirkland issues its own plumbing permits — from the City's building official, not Public Health – Seattle & King County. KMC 21.06.205 requires anyone who intends to "erect, install, enlarge, alter, repair, remove, convert or replace any electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing system" to "first make application to the building official and obtain the required permit". Kirkland adopts the 2021 Uniform Plumbing Code as amended by the State Building Code Council in chapter 51-56 WAC (KMC 21.24.010). Exempt under KMC 21.06.215(4): stopping or repairing leaks — but replacing a defective concealed trap, drain, water, soil, waste or vent pipe "shall be considered as new work and a permit shall be obtained" — clearing stoppages, repairing leaks in pipes, valves or fixtures and removing and reinstalling water closets, where the repair needs no replacement or rearrangement of valves, pipes or fixtures; and reinstalling or replacing prefabricated fixtures that need no replacement or rearrangement of valves or pipes. KMC 21.06.215: "Permit exemptions shall not apply to areas of flood hazard or city land use critical areas and their required buffers, or locations subject to the construction requirements of the International Wildland-Urban Interface Code." The City's Water Heater Replacement page: "Replacing a water heater requires at least one permit." An electric water heater needs a Plumbing Permit; a gas water heater needs a Mechanical Permit, plus a Plumbing Permit "when water piping must be rearranged to accommodate the new water heater."

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 2026-09-25

Required submittals

  • Fixture count + DFU calc for repipes
  • Water heater specs
  • Sewer line plan if site work involved

Inspection sequence

  1. Rough-in / pressure test
  2. Final

Contractor specialties needed

Plumber

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 plumbing job from start to finish: a licensed plumbing 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 plumbing quote.

Notes & caveats

Apply online at MyBuildingPermit.com. The City's Mechanical, Plumbing, Electrical and Fire Permit Process page: "Plumbing Permits are required for plumbing equipment or systems." Water heater page: kirklandwa.gov/Government/Departments/Development-Services-Center/Do-you-need-a-permit/Water-Heater-Replacement. Water heater: T&P relief, expansion tank required if pressure >80psi or check valve installed. Sewer line: cleanouts at every 100ft + change of direction. Backwater valve required in flood zones.

How to apply yourself

  1. 1. Check who issues the permit. Run an address lookup for your plumbing 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. 2. Assemble submittals: the 3 documents under Required submittals above.
  3. 3. Submit through the city portal: Kirkland Planning and Building Department ↗
  4. 4. Track review. Respond to reviewer comments promptly.
  5. 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 plumbing contractor does the plumbing work and pulls the permit, and Kolmo coordinates the scope, schedule, inspections and any related construction.

(206) 410-5100

Licensed WA general contractor KOLMOL*753JS · bonded & insured

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Plumbing permits in Kirkland — FAQ

When does plumbing work need a permit in Kirkland?

Kirkland issues its own plumbing permits — from the City's building official, not Public Health – Seattle & King County. KMC 21.06.205 requires anyone who intends to "erect, install, enlarge, alter, repair, remove, convert or replace any electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing system" to "first make application to the building official and obtain the required permit". Kirkland adopts the 2021 Uniform Plumbing Code as amended by the State Building Code Council in chapter 51-56 WAC (KMC 21.24.010). Exempt under KMC 21.06.215(4): stopping or repairing leaks — but replacing a defective concealed trap, drain, water, soil, waste or vent pipe "shall be considered as new work and a permit shall be obtained" — clearing stoppages, repairing leaks in pipes, valves or fixtures and removing and reinstalling water closets, where the repair needs no replacement or rearrangement of valves, pipes or fixtures; and reinstalling or replacing prefabricated fixtures that need no replacement or rearrangement of valves or pipes. KMC 21.06.215: "Permit exemptions shall not apply to areas of flood hazard or city land use critical areas and their required buffers, or locations subject to the construction requirements of the International Wildland-Urban Interface Code." The City's Water Heater Replacement page: "Replacing a water heater requires at least one permit." An electric water heater needs a Plumbing Permit; a gas water heater needs a Mechanical Permit, plus a Plumbing Permit "when water piping must be rearranged to accommodate the new water heater."

How much does a plumbing permit cost in Kirkland?

Kirkland's plumbing permit fees are the City's, not a Public Health fee: on an existing house, $30 for each new or moved fixture and $30 per dwelling unit for re-piping the water lines, $60 at the least and $358 at the most; for new construction, 8% of the building 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.

Kirkland resourcesPermit portal ↗Fee schedule ↗