King County encourages cool roofs and reflective surfaces through the Washington State Energy Code and green building incentives, especially for large commercial reroofs in unincorporated areas and Metro facilities.
The Washington State Energy Code, adopted under RCW 19.27A and enforced through KCC Title 16, sets reflectance and emittance options for low-slope commercial reroof projects and new construction. King County's Green Building program offers expedited permitting and incentive points when projects use cool roofing, high solar reflectance index pavement, or vegetated roofs. Residential cool-roof standards are voluntary, but the SCAP and heat-island mitigation strategies push wider adoption near transit corridors and dense neighborhoods.
Cool-roof requirements appear during permit review for covered commercial reroofs; non-compliance results in permit denial or required redesign rather than ticketing of the homeowner.
Kirkland, WA
Leaf blowers and power equipment are restricted to 8 AM to 8 PM weekdays and 9 AM to 6 PM on weekends and holidays under KMC 11.84A. Kirkland has not adopted...
Kirkland, WA
Kirkland sits about 20 miles north of Sea-Tac and is lightly affected by commercial flights. Kenmore Air seaplanes and Renton Municipal general aviation caus...
Kirkland, WA
Kirkland does not impose a citywide overnight parking ban, but enforces the 72-hour rule, signed residential permit zones, and no-parking signs at parks, tra...
Kirkland, WA
Kirkland driveways must remain paved, accessible, and used for vehicle parking per KMC Title 115 zoning code, which limits front-yard paving and requires app...
Kirkland, WA
EV charging in Kirkland follows the Washington State Energy Code, which requires EV-ready capacity in new multifamily and commercial parking and protects pub...
Kirkland, WA
Under KZC 115.40, Kirkland fences may be up to 6 feet except within 15 feet of a street curb. Properties on a neighborhood access or collector street are cap...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in King County.
See how Kirkland's cool roof requirements rules stack up against other locations.
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