Industrial sources in Kirkland cannot exceed 60 dBA at a residential property line under WAC 173-60, reduced 10 dBA at night. Totem Lake and NE 120th St are the primary industrial zones.
Industrial noise in Kirkland is controlled primarily through Washington WAC 173-60, which Kirkland adopts by reference in KMC 11.84A. The receiving property limit is 60 dBA during the day when an industrial or Class C source transmits to a residential Class A receiving property, reduced by 10 dBA at night (50 dBA from 10 PM to 7 AM weekdays and 10 PM to 9 AM weekends). Common sources in Kirkland include rooftop HVAC units on Totem Lake Mall and the light industrial corridor along NE 120th Street, truck dock activity at distribution centers, and backup beepers on delivery vehicles. Kirkland does not operate its own decibel enforcement unit; complaints are referred to Washington Department of Ecology or handled by Kirkland Police through the KMC 11.84A public disturbance framework. New industrial and commercial development proposals include acoustic mitigation as a SEPA review condition. Back-up alarms on vehicles are federally mandated and cannot be removed.
Industrial violations are cited under KMC 11.84A and WAC 173-60 with mitigation orders; habitual exceedances can lead to conditional use permit revocation through the Planning Commission.
Kirkland, WA
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Kirkland, WA
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Kirkland, WA
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Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in King County.
See how other cities in King County handle industrial noise.
See how Kirkland's industrial noise rules stack up against other locations.
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