Apply for a Downtown Employee Parking Permit

To help ensure that Downtown Kirkland visitors and customers have the best parking options in downtown Kirkland, employees of downtown businesses are encouraged to park in designated areas managed by the City. Participation in the Downtown Employee Parking Program is free.

Employees who work for businesses in the central business district of downtown Kirkland and choose to participate in the program need to register their vehicle and receive a permit decal to be displayed in their vehicle.

Your permit allows you to park in these designated areas:

  • Peter Kirk Municipal Garage – in signed "Permit Parking Only" stalls (lower level of garage, Level P2)
  • Wester Lot at 120 3rd Ave (near city hall)
  • Lake Ave W. – where signed "Except By Permit"

While the Wester lot and Lake Ave W. are available 24 hours a day, the Municipal Garage closes and locks at midnight every night and reopens daily at 5 a.m. No after-hours vehicle retrieval is available.

 

Employees of businesses located in the white highlighted area on the map are eligible to participate in the program. Any employees of businesses outside of this area are not eligible.

Online

Step 1.Make sure you're eligible

Employees that qualify for this program must work in the central business district, as defined by Downtown Employee Parking Program for Central Business District(PDF, 256KB).

Downtown Employee Parking program limits map

Step 2.Get approval from your manager

The form will need to be signed by your manager to get approved. 
Your employer must have a valid City business license and verify your employment on the registration form with their signature.

Step 3.Complete your online application

As a downtown employee, you may register up to two vehicles. All vehicle information including license plate number is required.

 

Step 4.We'll get back to you

When your form is received it will be processed and the new permit decal will be mailed to the address listed under Employee Information. If you would like the permit decal mailed to a different address, please add a note to the form or email us.

Place the permit decal on the driver's side rear window. If the rear window is heavily tinted and hinders the visibility of the permit sticker, the alternate location is the driver's side front windshield.

Email

Step 1.Make sure you're eligible

Employees that qualify for this program must work in the central business district, as defined by Downtown Employee Parking Program for Central Business District(PDF, 256KB).

Downtown-Employee-Parking-thumbnail-2.jpg

Step 2.Get approval from your manager

The form will need to be signed by your manager to get approved. 
Your employer must have a valid City business license and verify your employment on the registration form with their signature.

Step 3.Print the PDF application

As a downtown employee, you may register up to two vehicles. All vehicle information including license plate number is required.

Print Application for Your Parking Permit(PDF, 906KB)

Step 4.Email your application

Email it to parking@kirklandwa.gov.

Step 5.We'll get back to you

When your form is received it will be processed and the new permit decal will be mailed to the address listed under Employee Information. If you would like the permit decal mailed to a different address, please add a note to the form or email us.

Place the permit decal on the driver's side rear window. If the rear window is heavily tinted and hinders the visibility of the permit sticker, the alternate location is the driver's side front windshield.

Mail

Step 1.Make sure you're eligible

Employees that qualify for this program must work in the central business district, as defined by Downtown Employee Parking Program for Central Business District(PDF, 256KB).

Downtown-Employee-Parking-thumbnail-2.jpg

Step 2.Get approval from your manager

The form will need to be signed by your manager to get approved. 
Your employer must have a valid City business license and verify your employment on the registration form with their signature.

Step 3.Print the PDF application

As a downtown employee, you may register up to two vehicles. All vehicle information including license plate number is required.

Print Application for Your Parking Permit(PDF, 906KB)

Step 4.Mail your application

Mail your complete application to:

Kirkland City Hall
C/O David Gourlie
123 5th Avenue
Kirkland, WA 98033

Step 5.We'll get back to you

When your form is received it will be processed and the new permit decal will be mailed to the address listed under Employee Information. If you would like the permit decal mailed to a different address, please add a note to the form or email us.

Place the permit decal on the driver's side rear window. If the rear window is heavily tinted and hinders the visibility of the permit sticker, the alternate location is the driver's side front windshield.

In Person

Step 1.Make sure you're eligible

Employees that qualify for this program must work in the central business district, as defined by Downtown Employee Parking Program for Central Business District(PDF, 256KB).

Downtown-Employee-Parking-thumbnail-2.jpg

Step 2.Get approval from your manager

The form will need to be signed by your manager to get approved. 
Your employer must have a valid City business license and verify your employment on the registration form with their signature.

Step 3.Print the PDF application

As a downtown employee, you may register up to two vehicles. All vehicle information including license plate number is required.

Print Application for Your Parking Permit(PDF, 906KB)

Step 4.Deliver your application to Kirkland City Hall

Visit the Public Works counter at Kirkland City Hall. Please turn in your completed form to the Public Works permit tech at the counter.

Step 5.We'll get back to you

When your form is received it will be processed and the new permit decal will be handed to you along with an information sheet. The info sheet lists the rules of the program and a map of the employee parking locations.

Place the permit decal on the driver's side rear window. If the rear window is heavily tinted and hinders the visibility of the permit sticker, the alternate location is the driver's side front windshield.

 Reminders

  • Participating in the program provides free parking for downtown employees in designated areas. Parking is on a first come, first served basis and is not guaranteed.
  • The Central Business District of downtown Kirkland is defined by Kirkland Municipal Code 12.45.010(1).
  • Per Kirkland Municipal Code 12.45.250, downtown employees are not allowed to park in areas not designated for employee parking. These areas include the Lake & Central public pay parking lot and the Lakeshore/Marina public pay parking lot.
  • The parking permit expires one year from the date of issuance. The employee is responsible for renewing their parking with a new registration form and permit each year.
  • If registering two vehicles only one vehicle can be parked in a downtown employee designated area at a time. If two members of a household share the same vehicles it is recommended that they register the vehicles separately. 
  • The employee is responsible for updating the information for registered vehicles if the information changes.
  • Permits can be used once received.


Applying Permit Decal to Vehicle

For successful placement of your new parking permit on your vehicle's window please follow these tips.

The permit is a vinyl static cling (no adhesive) and is meant to be placed on the inside of the window (either front or back window on the driver’s side). For best adhesion it is recommended that you follow these steps:

  • Use a damp paper towel to clean the area of the window where the permit will be placed.
  • Wipe that area dry.
  • Remove the paper from the permit and using your damp paper towel, wipe the face of the permit (printed side) that will be placed against the window so that it is damp.
  • Place damp permit on window and rub the back of the permit with the damp towel or with your hand to make sure all of the permit is in contact with the window.
  • Lightly dry any remaining water.
  • And that’s it! Your permit should not come off until you remove it yourself.

 

Contact Us

David Gourlie
Transportation Engineering Analyst
425-587-3867 

Important Parking Information

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