Basement Waterproofing in Kirkland, WA

Basement waterproofing in Kirkland: what to know

Kirkland’s code treats footing drains with a specific test. Foundation and footing drain flows are allowed unless the Public Works director determines they pollute or are likely to pollute (KMC 15.52.090(b)), so the discharge is checked as well as the drain. Illicit connections, including any that carry sewage, are prohibited (KMC 15.52.090(e)), and that rule decides where a footing drain can end.

On sloped Kirkland lots the outlet is part of the repair. A footing drain that discharges onto a slope or a neighbor’s frontage moves the problem rather than solving it. Altering an existing drainage facility needs city approval and a permit (KMC 15.52.120(c)), so a new outlet or a rerouted drain is a permit item, not only a yard task.

Permits and rules in Kirkland

A dig beside a foundation on a steep lot or in a critical area can draw review that a flat-lot dig would avoid, so we ask Kirkland whether the site and the outlet need approval before the ground opens. We check the discharge point, the slope it drains toward, and whether any outlet would connect to a public system. Those answers set the track for the repair, and they are settled before the crew is scheduled.

Kirkland’s permit guidance requires a permit for rockeries and retaining walls over four feet. Driveway replacement and any work in the public right-of-way need a Public Works permit. Sidewalks 30 inches or less above grade may not need a building permit when they are not over a basement or story below and not part of an accessible route. Permit exemptions do not apply in areas of flood hazard, wetland, steep slope, shoreline, or other land use critical areas. Rules change, so we confirm the current requirements with the city before we start.

How we approach it

Trace roof runoff, grading, and uphill water before any dig
Test the discharge point against the city’s footing drain rule
Plan any new outlet or reroute as a permit item with the city
Confirm no sewage or other illicit flow reaches the footing drain

For the full process, see our Basement Waterproofing page.

Our basement waterproofing work, serving Kirkland

Examples of our work. We build basement waterproofing in Kirkland and the cities around it. See all of our work

Questions from Kirkland homeowners

Is a footing drain discharge allowed under Kirkland’s stormwater code?

Foundation and footing drain flows are allowed unless the Public Works director determines they pollute or are likely to pollute (KMC 15.52.090(b)). We check the discharge point and any pollution concern before the outlet is designed.

What counts as an illicit connection in Kirkland?

Kirkland prohibits illicit connections, including any that carry sewage (KMC 15.52.090(e)). A footing drain must not be tied into a sanitary line, and any change to an existing drainage facility needs city approval and a permit under KMC 15.52.120.

Does a basement drain repair in Kirkland need a permit if it alters an existing drain?

It can. Altering an existing drainage facility needs city approval and a permit under KMC 15.52.120(c). A dig on a steep lot or in a critical area can draw additional review, so we confirm the track before the excavation starts.