Concrete removal in Kirkland
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In Kirkland, the concrete between your property line and the street is mostly your responsibility, and the city has written down exactly when it has to come out. Its Public Works policy R-11 sets out how many cracks a section of curb, sidewalk or driveway may have before it must be replaced, and how much has to be cut out when it is.
That makes Kirkland removal jobs more predictable than most, if you read the rules first. Here's what they say, plus the permits and disposal options that apply. Tell us about the job and we'll pass it to one local concrete removal contractor. It costs you nothing.
Local facts for Kirkland
- Abutting owner pays
- Kirkland's policy R-11 cites KMC 19.20.020 and .030: street improvements are to be maintained in a safe condition, with repair costs borne by the property directly abutting them. Source: City of Kirkland: Policy R-11, Replacement of Existing Curb and Sidewalk
- Replacement rules
- One perpendicular crack is allowed per 10-ft section. Sidewalk panels may be cut at the finish joint and half replaced, while curb must be replaced in full 10-ft sections. Source: City of Kirkland: Policy R-11
- Public Works permit
- A permit from the Public Works Department is required for driveway replacement or any work in the public right-of-way, even where a building permit isn't. Source: City of Kirkland: Do you need a permit?
- Grading trigger
- Soil removal or fill over 50 cubic yards, or any that changes the course of drainage, needs a permit in Kirkland. Source: City of Kirkland: Do you need a permit?
- Houghton transfer station
- Houghton Recycling & Transfer Station, 11724 NE 60th St, Kirkland. The maximum combined vehicle and trailer length is 25 ft. Source: King County: Guide to Recycling & Transfer Facilities
Who pays for the concrete at the street
Kirkland's policy R-11 quotes the city code (KMC 19.20.020 and .030). Street improvements are to be kept in a safe condition, and the cost of maintenance and repair is borne by the property directly abutting them. That covers curb, gutter, sidewalk and the driveway where it crosses the right-of-way.
The policy also notes that redevelopment is when the city is most likely to make an owner fix deteriorated frontage. If you're rebuilding a house or putting in a new driveway, expect the sidewalk and curb in front to be part of the conversation.
Kirkland's rules for which panels come out
R-11 is unusually specific, which helps when you're comparing quotes. Each 10-foot section of curb, sidewalk, driveway or curb ramp is allowed one crack running perpendicular to the road. On work less than a year old, that crack can't be wider than 1/32 inch and can't show settlement or spalling. Anything heaved, spalled, showing aggregate or with separated joints must be removed and replaced. The City Engineer has the final say on which pieces go.
- A sidewalk panel can be saw-cut at the finish joint and half of the 10-foot section replaced.
- A curb has to be replaced as a whole 10-foot section, expansion joint to expansion joint.
- No color or tint can be added to the new concrete unless Public Works approves it.
Permits: building, public works and grading
Kirkland's permit guide lists sidewalks and driveways 30 inches or less above grade, not over a basement and not part of an accessible route, among the projects that don't need a building permit. But the same page adds that a Public Works permit is required for driveway replacement or any work in the public right-of-way, and points to the driveway policy and the Public Works line, 425-587-3800.
Two other items on that list can apply to a removal job. Soil removal or fill needs a permit when it's over 50 cubic yards or changes the course of drainage. Temporary use of the right-of-way, which the city's examples say includes dumpsters, needs one too. A patio on a slope that gets regraded after removal can hit the drainage trigger well before 50 yards.
Disposal from Kirkland
King County's Houghton Recycling & Transfer Station is in Kirkland at 11724 NE 60th St. It has a 25-foot limit on the combined length of vehicle and trailer, shorter than the 40 feet allowed at Factoria or Shoreline, so a long truck-and-trailer setup should go elsewhere. County rules on C&D debris apply here too. Dump trucks and dump trailers are turned away unless C&D is under 20% of the load. Our disposal guide covers where full loads of broken concrete can go.
Services in Kirkland
Concrete Driveway Removal in Kirkland
Breaking out and hauling away a cracked, heaved or failing concrete driveway — down to clean, compacted subgrade ready for whatever comes next.
Read more →
Concrete Hauling & Disposal in Kirkland
Concrete already broken out and sitting in a pile — loaded and taken to a recycler.
Read more →Questions about concrete removal in Kirkland
Who is responsible for sidewalk repair in front of my house in Kirkland?
The property owner. Kirkland's policy R-11 cites city code that puts the cost of maintaining and repairing curb, sidewalk and driveway on the property directly abutting them.
Do I need a permit to replace my driveway in Kirkland?
Usually not a building permit, if the driveway is 30 inches or less above grade and isn't over a basement or part of an accessible route. You do need a Public Works permit for driveway replacement or any work in the public right-of-way.
How much of a cracked sidewalk has to be replaced in Kirkland?
Under R-11, a sidewalk panel can be saw-cut at the finish joint and half of the 10-foot section replaced. Curb has to be replaced as a full 10-foot section. The City Engineer decides which pieces must be replaced.
Can I take broken concrete to the Houghton transfer station?
Small loads, yes, under King County's C&D rules. That means no dense piece bigger than 2 x 2 x 2 feet and over 200 pounds without a waste clearance, and no dump trucks or dump trailers unless C&D is under 20% of the load. Your vehicle and trailer together must also be 25 feet or shorter.
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