Concrete Patios & Stairs in Bonney Lake, WA

Patios & stairs in Bonney Lake: what to know

Lakefront lots are the unusual case. Cascade Water Alliance owns the Lake Tapps shoreline up to the 545-foot line, the reservoir’s typical summer level is 541.5 to 543 feet, and the city’s shoreline permit rules require a Cascade license for development below the 545 line before a building permit issues. A slab or steps near the water need that answer first, along with a shoreline exemption or permit.

Away from the lake, water is the main design problem. Alderwood soil holds winter water within a few feet of the surface, so we pitch the slab away from the house and keep downspout lines from running under it. Where a yard falls away from the back door, we cut each step riser to the same height.

Permits and rules in Bonney Lake

Bonney Lake exempts a deck from a building permit only when it is 200 square feet or less, no more than 30 inches above grade, not attached to the house, and not serving a required exit door. If your steps serve an exit door, we ask the Permit Center whether that exemption reaches them. Setbacks, critical areas, and shoreline rules still apply to a ground-level slab, and the city’s checklist lists HOA approval among commonly required approvals. We confirm the setback and footprint rules Bonney Lake applies to a slab before we price it.

Rules change and vary by parcel, so we confirm the current requirements with the city before we start.

How we approach it

Check the slope and shoreline maps before we draw the layout
Get the Cascade license answer first on lots near Lake Tapps
Slope the slab off the foundation and keep downspouts out from under it
Size each step and landing to the door it serves

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 Bonney Lake

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

Questions from Bonney Lake homeowners

Can I pour a patio near the Lake Tapps shoreline in Bonney Lake?

Maybe, but it starts with ownership and permits. Cascade Water Alliance owns the shoreline up to the 545-foot line, and city code ties building permits below that line to a Cascade license. Shoreline review can apply too.

Will my Bonney Lake HOA need to approve a new patio?

Often, yes. The city’s permit checklist lists HOA approval among commonly required approvals, and covenants often cover patio size, color, and finish. City approval does not replace it. Send us your covenants and we plan around them.

Do concrete steps at my Bonney Lake back door count as a deck for permits?

That is not always clear. The city exempts only small, low, detached decks that do not serve a required exit door, and steps at your door may not fit that description. We ask the Permit Center before we build.