Concrete Patios & Stairs in Bellevue, WA

Patios & stairs in Bellevue: what to know

A patio that falls the wrong way holds rain against the house, so the fall is set before anything else. On a Bellevue lot we run a level line across the finished surface, find the lowest corner, and choose the discharge before any concrete is ordered. Stairs cut into a slope need their own fall, with each tread shedding water forward rather than pooling on the nosing.

Raised edges are sorted by height and by what presses on them. Bellevue’s permit FAQ requires a permit for a retaining wall over four feet high, counted from the underside of the footing up to the top edge, and for any wall supporting a surcharge load. Any load that presses on an edge from above, such as a building or a parked vehicle, gets logged, because the city’s surcharge rule turns on it.

Permits and rules in Bellevue

Patios at grade are the simplest case. Bellevue’s permit page says no permit is needed for an on-grade patio or pavers unless the earthwork is above certain thresholds, and that exemption does not reach lots inside the Critical Areas Overlay District. We check the overlay status for the parcel first, measure the earthwork next, and then set the wall questions for any raised edge. The answer goes into the scope before a price is quoted.

Bellevue’s permit FAQ requires a permit for a retaining wall over four feet high, counted from the underside of the footing up to the top edge, and for any wall supporting a surcharge load. Walls over 30 inches high must stay out of any required setback. A patio or paver set on grade needs no permit unless the earthwork passes the city’s thresholds, and that exemption does not reach lots inside the Critical Areas Overlay District. The residential right-of-way permit may cover driveway installation and driveway reconstruction or relocation. The city revises these rules, so we confirm the current requirements before work begins.

How we approach it

Set the fall so water runs off the house side
Plan the roof-water outlet before the pour
Measure each raised edge where the footing meets the soil
Log every load that presses on an edge from above

For the full process, see our Concrete Patios & Stairs page.

Building in the cold months? See our guide to winter concrete pours.

Our patios & stairs work, serving Bellevue

Examples of our work. We build patios & stairs in Bellevue and the cities around it. See all of our work

Questions from Bellevue homeowners

Does the Critical Areas Overlay District change the patio answer in Bellevue?

Yes. Bellevue’s permit page limits the on-grade patio and paver exemption to lots outside the Critical Areas Overlay District. Inside the district the exemption does not apply, so the patio falls back to the general permit rules, and we check the overlay map for the address before quoting.

What keeps water from pooling on a Bellevue patio on a slope?

Begin with the slope of the slab itself. Every edge should fall away from the house, roof water needs a planted outlet or a drain, and a low corner needs a way out before the pour.

Can steps on a Bellevue hillside count as a wall?

Steps that hold back soil can work like a wall, so we record the rise, any load on top, and which rules reach that edge before the treads are formed.