Concrete Patios & Stairs in Buckley, WA

Patios & stairs in Buckley: what to know

The right-of-way rule in BMC 13.35.060(1) covers trenching, digging, excavating, or penetrating a city sidewalk, curb, or gutter. A patio or step that stays within the lot does not reach that list, but a step that meets the sidewalk, or a patio whose edge is cut into the curb line, may. We check the edge location against the property line and the street line before any form goes in.

We have not confirmed a Buckley exemption for patios, stairs, or the soil moved for their bases, so those answers come from city staff in writing. The base is measured the way we measure any slab: the finished height at each edge, the soil removed, and the path the runoff takes to an outlet on the lot.

Permits and rules in Buckley

Before layout, we check the edge location against the property line, we confirm whether any part of the step or patio meets the sidewalk, curb, or gutter, and we confirm the runoff outlet on the site plan. A patio or step that reaches the right-of-way waits for the city’s permit under BMC 13.35 before the base is dug.

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

How we approach it

Locate every patio and step edge against the property and street lines
Confirm whether any step meets the sidewalk, curb, or gutter
Measure the finished height at each edge and the soil removed for the base
Mark the runoff outlet on the site plan before the base is dug

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 Buckley

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

Questions from Buckley homeowners

Does a patio in Buckley need a city permit?

A patio that stays on private ground is a question we settle with city staff in writing, because we have not confirmed a Buckley patio exemption. A patio that reaches the sidewalk, curb, or gutter falls under BMC 13.35.060(1), which requires a right-of-way use permit first.

Do Buckley patio steps need a permit where they meet the sidewalk?

When a step digs into or penetrates the sidewalk, curb, or gutter, BMC 13.35.060(1) applies and a right-of-way use permit comes first. We confirm the step’s edge with the city before the forms are set.

How much soil can a Buckley patio base move?

We have not located a Buckley soil-volume exemption in the code text we read, so the base’s soil is measured and the figure is confirmed with city staff in writing before excavation. The measurement goes on the scope so the crew and the city work from the same number.