FEMA flood zone rules in Kirkland, WA — also called floodplain regulations or special flood hazard area (SFHA) rules — determine flood insurance requirements and elevation standards for new construction.
Kirkland regulates construction in FEMA-mapped floodplains along Juanita Creek and Forbes Creek under KMC Chapter 21.56 and the Critical Areas Ordinance, requiring elevation and flood vents.
Kirkland participates in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and enforces FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM) for King County and Incorporated Areas. Primary mapped floodplains run along Juanita Creek, Forbes Creek, and smaller tributaries that ultimately drain to Lake Washington. Kirkland Municipal Code Chapter 21.56 and related critical areas sections of KMC Chapter 90 regulate development in Special Flood Hazard Areas (Zones A and AE). New construction and substantial improvements in the floodplain must have the lowest floor elevated at least one foot above the Base Flood Elevation (BFE); enclosures below BFE must be flood-vented with engineered openings to allow equalization. Fill, dumping, and placement of obstructions in the floodway are prohibited. Stream buffers under the Critical Areas Ordinance often extend 50 to 150 feet from the ordinary high water mark and typically exceed the regulatory floodplain boundary. Flood insurance is federally required for structures in Zones A and AE with a federally backed mortgage, and homeowners should request an elevation certificate before permit submittal. Floodplain administrator services are handled through Kirkland Public Works at (425) 587-3800; FEMA map lookups are available at msc.fema.gov.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
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Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in King County.
See how other cities in King County handle flood zones.
See how Kirkland's flood zones rules stack up against other locations.
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