Kennewick, WA Parking Rules: Driveway Rules (2026)

Driveway construction in Kennewick is governed by Chapter 18.36 KMC (Off-Street Parking) of the Title 18 Zoning Code. KMC 18.36.100(1) (Surfacing) requires that every public and private parking area be surfaced with asphalt or Portland cement binder pavement to provide a durable and dustless surface, graded and drained for on-site disposal of surface water, and arranged and marked for orderly and safe loading, unloading, parking and storage. For residential zoning districts, the driveway to the primary parking structure must be surfaced with asphalt or Portland cement binder pavement (or an alternative hard surface approved by the Planning Director); driveways for accessory structures not used for primary parking may be surfaced with a minimum three-inch compacted gravel. KMC 18.36.100(6) (Driveways) requires that driveways in C, UMU or I districts be at least 28 feet from pedestrian crosswalks, surfaced to the same hard-surface standard, and at least 30 feet in width. KMC 18.36.040 (Access) requires that no vehicle back out onto a public way from a parking lot in any district except R districts. KMC 18.12.010 A.2 (Table of Residential Site Development Standards) sets a 20-foot minimum garage setback in the RS, RL, RM, RH, RTP and RMH zones, with a reduced 15-foot setback allowed for side-entry garages. Building permits for driveway-related structures (retaining walls, carports, attached garages) are issued by the City of Kennewick Permit Center under the State Building Code (Chapter 19.27 RCW) and the WAC 51-50 series adopting the 2021 International Building Code. Curb cuts in the public right-of-way require a permit from Kennewick Public Works.