Kirkland, WA Historic Preservation: Historic-Cultural Monuments (2026)

Kirkland's Title 28 declares that protecting buildings, sites, districts, structures and objects of historical, cultural, architectural, engineering, geographic, ethnic and archaeological significance serves the city's prosperity, civic pride and general welfare (KMC 28.04.010(a)). Rather than staff its own board, the city designates the King County Landmarks and Heritage Commission, formed under King County Code Chapter 20.62, to act as Kirkland's landmarks commission (KMC 28.08.010(a)). The mayor appoints one special commission member, confirmed by the city council, who must show demonstrated interest and competence in historic preservation; that member serves a three-year term and may not serve more than two consecutive three-year terms (KMC 28.08.010(b)).

The commission cannot hold public hearings on Kirkland properties until its rules and regulations are filed with the city clerk (KMC 28.08.010(c)). Substantive standards come from King County Code Chapter 20.62, incorporated into Kirkland's title by KMC 28.12.010: designation criteria (KCC 20.62.040), nomination procedure (KCC 20.62.050), designation procedure (KCC 20.62.070), certificate of appropriateness procedure (KCC 20.62.080), economic impact evaluation (KCC 20.62.100), appeal procedure (KCC 20.62.110), and special valuation for historic properties (KCC 20.62.140), with every reference to 'King County' read as 'Kirkland.' A property owner whose landmark was designated while used as a single-family residence, and is still so used, can ask the Kirkland planning official to administratively remove the designation if it was not a condition of a development permit, any city funding tied to the designation is repaid, and other funders are given 30 days' written notice before removal (KMC 28.10.010).