Concrete removal in Redmond
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Redmond has something under it that most of its neighbors don't: a shallow aquifer that supplies part of the city's drinking water. The city's 2026 water quality report says it starts just 5 to 15 feet below the surface, beneath Downtown and running east toward Avondale Road and Southeast Redmond.
That doesn't stop anyone taking out a driveway. It does change what a careful contractor does with saw-cutting slurry, runoff and spills while the ground is exposed. Here's that, plus Redmond's permit timing and where the debris can go. Tell us about the job and we'll pass it to one local concrete removal contractor. It costs you nothing.
Local facts for Redmond
- Shallow aquifer
- Redmond's groundwater aquifer lies beneath Downtown and extends east toward Avondale Rd and Southeast Redmond, starting 5 to 15 feet below the ground surface. Groundwater supplies 40% of the city's drinking water. Source: City of Redmond: 2026 Water Quality Report
- Construction rules in the CARA
- Under Redmond's Wellhead Protection Ordinance, construction sites implement specific protection standards, and in 2025 the city restricted temporary construction dewatering in the Critical Aquifer Recharge Area. Source: City of Redmond: 2026 Water Quality Report
- Permit covers driveways and dumpsters
- Redmond's Right-of-Way Use Permit covers driveway and sidewalk replacement and temporary storage such as PODs and dumpsters. Source: City of Redmond: Right-of-Way Use Permit
- Permit timing
- Review and approval usually take a minimum of two weeks, with an additional week if a performance bond is required. Source: City of Redmond: Right-of-Way Use Permit
Working over Redmond's aquifer
Groundwater supplies 40% of Redmond's drinking water through municipal wells. The city protects the most vulnerable ground as Critical Aquifer Recharge Areas, CARA I and CARA II, where it monitors groundwater and reviews development plans. Under its Wellhead Protection Ordinance, construction sites follow specific protection standards. In 2025 Redmond also tightened rules on temporary construction dewatering in the CARA.
A typical driveway or patio removal is a small job, and the city's code exempts single-family residential use of hazardous materials from the CARA performance standards. But the city's advice to residents is plain: keep oils, cleaners and other chemicals from reaching the ground or entering stormwater, especially in the CARA.
- Ask how the crew will contain wet saw slurry and wash-water rather than hosing it to the street drain.
- Ask about fuel and hydraulic oil for any machine on site, and what happens if one leaks.
- Report a spill to Redmond's Pollution Hotline on 425-556-2868.
Right-of-way permits take at least two weeks
Redmond's Right-of-Way Use Permit covers short-term work including driveway and sidewalk replacement or modification. The city's FAQ also lists temporary storage, PODs and dumpsters among the things that need it. The city defines the right-of-way as usually extending 10 to 20 feet beyond the roadway pavement, so the lower end of a driveway is often inside it even when it looks like your yard.
Build in time. Redmond says review and approval usually take a minimum of two weeks, plus another week if a performance bond is needed, and a bond is needed for any work that could damage public infrastructure. If the work blocks the sidewalk or street, you'll also need a traffic control plan with the application.
Hiring a contractor in Redmond
The city's right-of-way FAQ tells residents to check the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries before hiring, and says a Redmond business license is required. Ask any contractor for both. Ask too whether they'll handle the right-of-way permit and bond themselves or expect you to.
Where the broken concrete goes
There's no King County transfer station inside Redmond. The nearby county stations are Houghton in Kirkland and Factoria in Bellevue. Both take C&D debris from King County service-area residents in small loads, but turn away dump trucks and dump trailers unless C&D is under 20% of the load. Houghton also limits vehicle and trailer to 25 feet combined. Most full loads go to private recyclers instead. Our disposal guide covers the options.
Questions about concrete removal in Redmond
Do I need a permit to replace a driveway in Redmond?
For the part in the public right-of-way, yes. Redmond's Right-of-Way Use Permit specifically covers driveway and sidewalk replacement or modification. Allow at least two weeks for approval, and a third if a bond is required.
Do I need a permit for a dumpster in Redmond?
If it sits in the right-of-way, yes. Redmond's FAQ lists temporary storage, including PODs and dumpsters, among the uses that need a Right-of-Way Use Permit.
Does the aquifer stop me removing concrete in Redmond?
No. It affects how the work should be done, not whether it can be. Redmond asks residents to keep oils, cleaners and other chemicals out of the ground and stormwater, especially in the Critical Aquifer Recharge Area. Ask your contractor how they'll handle slurry, wash-water and machine fluids.
What should I check before hiring a contractor in Redmond?
Redmond tells residents to check the contractor with Washington's Department of Labor & Industries, and says a Redmond business license is required.
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