Kirkland, WA Zoning Overlays & Bonuses: Density Bonus Law (2026)
Key Facts
- Base bonus ratio
- 2 bonus units per affordable unit
- Maximum bonus
- 25% of base zone density
- Governing chapter
- KZC Chapter 112
- Alternate affordability bonus
- 1.9:1 to 2.2:1 by AMI level
- Review process
- Underlying permit process, no separate track
Summary
Kirkland grants two bonus market-rate units for every Affordable Housing Unit a developer builds or pays for in lieu, in zones where density is set by dividing lot size by the minimum lot area per unit. The bonus caps out at 25 percent of the units the underlying zone otherwise allows.
2. Bonus. ... c. Bonus Units. Except for uses in low-density residential zones, for uses in zones where the number of dwelling units allowed on the subject property is determined by dividing the lot size by the required minimum lot area per unit, two additional units ("bonus units") may be constructed for each Affordable Housing Unit provided or paid for in lieu of construction. (See Plate 32 for example of bonus unit calculations.) d. Maximum Unit Bonuses. The maximum number of bonus units achieved through a basic affordable housing incentive shall be 25 percent of the number of units allowed based on the underlying zone of the subject property.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 4945, passed July 21, 2026).
Full Breakdown
20 sets the city's basic affordable housing incentive program, reviewed through the same permit process used for the underlying development so no separate track is required. 20(2)(c), in use zones where the allowed number of dwelling units is calculated by dividing lot size by the required minimum lot area per unit, a developer may build two additional "bonus units" for every Affordable Housing Unit provided on site or paid for in lieu of construction; this does not apply to low-density residential zones. 5, rounded down), per the worked calculation the code publishes at Plate 32.
square footage. 20(2)(e) extends the same density bonus, capped at 25 percent of base density, to assisted living facilities. 20(2)(b) grants additional residential development capacity in specified RH8 areas, the HENC 2 zone, and the CBD 5A zone on the same trade. 2 to 1 at 80 percent of median income for owner-occupied units) in the CBD 5A, HENC 2, RH8, TL, and PLA 5C zones.
Violations & Fines
There is no fine for using the density bonus itself; it is a voluntary incentive elected by the applicant through the standard permit application. The exposure runs the other way: a project that claims bonus units without recording the required affordability restrictions or without meeting the KZC 112.35 affordability provisions risks permit denial or a stop-work order from the Planning and Building Department, and any bonus units built without the offsetting Affordable Housing Units are subject to the city's standard zoning code enforcement process for unpermitted density.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many extra units can I build in Kirkland for providing affordable housing?
Does the density bonus apply in Kirkland's low-density residential zones?
Can I get a bigger bonus than 2 units per affordable unit in Kirkland?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Kirkland
Compare Kirkland to another location·View the Washington zoning overlays & bonuses overview
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Density Bonus Law in Nearby Cities
How other cities in King County handle density bonus law.