Building Setbacks & Zoning in Kirkland, WA (2026)
3 verified building setbacks & zoning rules for Kirkland, Washington, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Setback Rules
Detached single-family homes in Kirkland's Low Density Residential zones (RS, RSX, RSA) must sit back 20 feet from the front property line, 5 feet from each side yard with both sides totaling at least 15 feet, and 10 feet from the rear, under KZC 15.30.060's Density/Dimensions Table. Lot coverage tops out at 50 percent, and height is capped 25-30 feet above average building elevation.
Kirkland Yard Setback Minimums by Zone
Some RestrictionsKZC 15.30.060 (Density/Dimensions Table, Low Density Residential Zones)
15.30.060 Detached Dwelling Unit ... RS: 20'14, 16 RSX: 20'15, 16 RSA: 20'15, 16, 20 ... 5'/15'9 RSX: 5'15 RSA: 5' ... 10' RS, RSX: 10'16 ... 50% RSA: 50%6 ... RS, PLA 3C, PLA 6E: 25' above ABE. RSX, PLA 16: 30' above ABE. DD-9. Five feet, but two side yards must equal at least 15 feet.
Structure Height Limits
Kirkland limits detached house height to 25 feet above average building elevation (ABE) in RS, PLA 3C and PLA 6E zones, and to 30 feet in RSX, RSA and PLA 16 zones, under the KZC 15.30.060 Density/Dimensions Table. ABE is a calculated elevation, not the natural grade, computed under KZC 115.59, and a short list of features may exceed the cap.
Kirkland Residential Height Limit: 25-30 Feet
Some RestrictionsKZC 15.30.060, Density/Dimensions Table – Low Density Residential Zones
Detached Dwelling Unit ... Maximum Height of Structure ABE = Average Building Elevation ... RS, PLA 3C, PLA 6E: 25' above ABE. RSX, PLA 16: 30' above ABE. RSA: 30' above ABE.21 WD II: 25' above ABE.25, 26
Lot Coverage Limits
Kirkland caps a single-family lot at 50 percent impervious lot coverage under KZC 15.30.060, the Density/Dimensions Table for the city's Low Density Residential zones. RSA-zoned lots share the 50 percent cap, but RSA 1 lots are held to just 30 percent under footnote DD-6.
Kirkland Max Lot Coverage for Houses
Some RestrictionsKZC 15.30.060 (Density/Dimensions Table, Detached Dwelling Unit, footnote DD-6); KZC 5.10.510
15.30.060 Detached Dwelling Unit ... Maximum Lot Coverage ... 50% RSA: 50%6 ... DD-6. Except 30 percent for RSA 1 zone. See RSA General Regulation 1 (KZC 15.10.030(1)) and KZC 15.05.020(3). / 5.10.510 Maximum Lot Coverage. The maximum percentage of the surface of the subject property that may be covered with materials which will not allow for the percolation of water into the underlying soils.
Looking for King County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Kirkland city rules.
Building Setbacks & Zoning in King County →