Kirkland Cares Low-Income Support Program

During the 2023-2024 budget process, the City Council added new funding for Kirkland’s first universal low-income discount program to help mitigate the impacts of inflation and higher utility rates. 

On December 12, 2023, Ordinance O-4868 was passed by City Council establishing the program and creating a new chapter of the Kirkland Municipal Code. 

• Must live within Kirkland City limits.

• Annual household income must be at or below 80% of Area Median Income (AMI) for King County:

  Household Size	80% of 2025 Area Median Income (AMI)
  For a Household of 1	$84,850
  For a Household of 2	$96,950
  For a Household of 3	$109,050
  For a Household of 4	$121,150
  For a Household of 5	$130,850
  For a Household of 6	$140,550
  For a Household of 7	$150,250
  For a Household of 8	$159,950

To be eligible for the utility discount applicants must meet the income qualifications and must receive water, sewer, and/or garbage services from the City of Kirkland.

If you pay your water, sewer, and/or garbage bills directly to the City of Kirkland, discounted rates will be applied to your bill.

If your water, sewer, and/or garbage utilities are included in your rent, you are eligible for the utility discount in the form of a rebate. Rebate amounts will depend on whether utilities are fully included in your rental bill or are itemized as a separate line in your rental bill.

Please visit the City’s Utility Billing webpage for more details. 

Qualified low-income households residing in a single-family residential unit that are directly billed by the city as a customer will be charged the following water, sewer, and garbage user rates:

Water:
Reduced income water rates are 50% of the water base charge.  Consumption is charged at the normal rate. 

Sewer:
Reduced sewer rates are 75% of the sewer base charge.  Normal rates apply to usage above the basic rate.

Garbage:
Solid waste rates for qualified low income seniors and disabled single family residential customers is 60% of the regular solid waste rates for each service level.

Qualified low-income households residing in a multifamily residential unit with utility costs itemized in their rental agreement or rental bill are eligible to receive a rebate for applicable city-owned utilities based on the utility payment amounts specified in their rental agreement or bill.

Qualified low-income households residing in a multifamily residential unit with utility costs included in the rental amount are eligible to receive a rebate for applicable city-owned utilities based on the residential unit size in accordance with the following table:

Income qualified applicants are eligible to receive discounts on pet licenses:

• $30 discount on license for altered pet (100% discount)
• $30 discount on license for unaltered pet (50% discount)

The discount may be applied to each pet in a household. Only dogs and cats are eligible for licensing.

Please visit the City’s Pet Licensing Page for more details. 

Income qualified applicants may receive a $50 annual discount on the basic license fee. To qualify, you must reside within the City of Kirkland and your business must be based in the City of Kirkland. You will be asked to provide your valid Unified Business Identifier (UBI) number.

To learn more, please visit the City’s Business Licensing Page. 

Income qualified residents may receive a $20 rebate for the city-imposed vehicle fee they personally paid by submitting an application.