Two New Programs to Expand Housing Choices & Expedite Green Buildings

Published on March 15, 2023

DADU in neighborhood

The City of Kirkland announces two new programs to help create more housing choices in the community and to incentivize the construction of environmentally-sound buildings. The first new program is a pre-approved Detached Accessory Dwelling Unit (DADU) program; the second is an expedited permit review program for High Performing Green Buildings.

“Our Pre-Approved DADU Program makes it easier for homeowners to add more affordable living space at their homes,” said Kirkland Councilmember Neal Black. “This can be a relatively affordable option to help meet our community’s growing housing needs.” With respect to the City’s new High Performing Green Buildings Program, Councilmember Black added, “Our new HPGB program is another program that expedites the permitting process, in this case to encourage greater energy efficiency and improved sustainability.”

Pre-Approved DADU Program

The pre-approved DADU program offers a faster, more affordable way to create an accessory dwelling unit on a property. To use a pre-approved plan, a homeowner contacts a designer through the City website, works with the designer through the permitting process, and pays a fee of no more than $1,000 to use the plan – a substantially lower cost than typical design fees. Because the plan is pre-approved, a homeowner is eligible for expedited permit review.

High Performing Green Building Program

The City’s new high performing green building program expands expedited permit review for high performing buildings in residential and commercial construction. High performing green buildings deliver a relatively higher level of energy-efficiency than that required by building codes or other regulations.  This results in greater water efficiency, better indoor air quality, and the use of more sustainable and durable materials.

All new building construction such as duplexes, triplexes and larger multi-family dwellings, commercial buildings, mixed use buildings, institutional buildings, and residential remodels are eligible to enroll in the program if they meet program requirements.

See more information about the pre-approved DADU Program or the High Performing Green Building Program.