Concrete Driveways & Sidewalks in Mountlake Terrace, WA

Driveways & sidewalks in Mountlake Terrace: what to know

The city’s right-of-way chapter treats work that disturbs the right-of-way, at, above, or below ground, as a Type B activity, and its list includes vehicle access openings through curbs and pedestrian walkways. The opening at the curb is therefore scoped under that chapter, and the answer comes from the Community and Economic Development Department for your address.

On private ground, the building chapter exempts sidewalks and driveways from building permits except where a civil permit is required. Whether a civil permit applies depends on the slab’s rise and on what sits beneath it, so we record those measurements first. The 2026 update to the city’s Engineering Development Manual changed the minimum width for driveway entrances, so the entrance is laid out to the current standard.

Permits and rules in Mountlake Terrace

Before a Mountlake Terrace drive is quoted, we check the rise above grade, any lower level beneath the slab, and the proposed width of the entrance. We confirm the Type B answer for the curb opening and ask whether a civil permit applies to the slab. The curb opening stays on its own line in the scope until both answers are recorded.

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

How we approach it

Record the rise above grade and any lower level
Measure the entrance width against the current manual
Confirm the Type B answer for the curb opening
Keep the curb opening on its own line in the scope

For the full process, see our Concrete Driveways & Sidewalks page.

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

Our driveways & sidewalks work, serving Mountlake Terrace

Examples of our work. We build driveways & sidewalks in Mountlake Terrace and the cities around it. See all of our work

Questions from Mountlake Terrace homeowners

Does a Mountlake Terrace driveway need a building permit?

The building chapter exempts sidewalks and driveways from building permits, except where a civil permit is required. Whether a civil permit applies depends on the work, so we confirm the answer for your address before the quote goes out.

Which Mountlake Terrace curb work falls under the Type B list?

Type B covers work that disturbs the right-of-way, and the list includes vehicle access openings through curbs and pedestrian walkways. A curb opening is therefore scoped as right-of-way work until the city’s answer is recorded.

What changed in the 2026 Mountlake Terrace driveway standards?

The city council approved revisions to its Engineering Development Manual in March 2026, and the update changed the minimum width required for driveway entrances. We check the current manual before laying out an entrance.