Concrete Driveways & Sidewalks in Tukwila, WA

Driveways & sidewalks in Tukwila: what to know

The city’s exemption sheet says sidewalks and driveways are exempt from building permits, then adds that Public Works permits are still required for ADA and impervious work. At the street edge, the right-of-way permit list names curb cuts, driveways, sidewalks, paving, and trenching, and it reaches private work that connects to the street.

On the lot, a driveway draws on the zone’s development area allowance. The city’s zoning page puts that at 75 percent of the lot, up to 5,850 square feet, in low-density residential zones for lots under 13,000 square feet. The code counts pervious hard surface at 75 percent of its area, so pavers do not escape the total.

Permits and rules in Tukwila

Right-of-way use permits follow Public Works application requirements, and the city’s fee worksheet, issued by Community Development, lists curb cuts, driveways, sidewalks, and culverts as right-of-way work. A slab entirely on your lot is a separate question. Before pricing an apron or walk, we confirm with Public Works whether it counts as impervious or ADA work, and we total your lot’s surfaces against the zone’s cap.

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

How we approach it

Sort the job into apron, walk, and private slab before asking the city anything
Tally house, drive, walks, and decks against the lot’s development area allowance
Find the right-of-way line, since annexed streets may lack frontage improvements
Mark buried utilities through 811 before cutting or trenching at the apron

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 Tukwila

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

Questions from Tukwila homeowners

Do I need a permit to replace my Tukwila driveway?

Not a building permit, since the city’s exemption sheet lists driveways and sidewalks as exempt from those. Public Works permits still apply to impervious and ADA work, and anything at the street edge is right-of-way. We confirm which applies to your replacement.

How much of my Tukwila lot can be paved?

The city’s zoning page sets the cap for low-density residential lots under 13,000 square feet at 75 percent of the lot, up to 5,850 square feet, counting structures, impervious surface, and 75 percent of pervious hard surface. Larger lots are held to 45 percent. We total yours first.

My street in Tukwila has no sidewalk. Can I pour a walk in front of my house?

Anything in the city right-of-way needs a right-of-way use permit, and that strip may extend past the edge of the pavement. A walk wholly on your lot does not. The city’s housing report notes that annexed areas often lack frontage improvements, so we locate the line first.