Kirkland Pre-Approved DADU Plans: Costs and Conditions
Kirkland’s program lists a designer-set plan license of up to $1,000. The license is not the complete design or permit budget: the property still needs site documents and must meet the city’s conditions for expedited review.
Sources checked November 5, 2026. Confirm the requirements for your parcel with its permitting authority.
What does the plan-license payment buy?
The program directs applicants to the designer listed for the selected plan. The city’s detailed guide says the registered building plan set is added to the permit documents by staff. Applicants still supply the required site-specific materials.
Before purchasing a license, ask the designer what is included, what adaptation work costs and whether the desired changes remain within the registered design. A plan you want to substantially redesign may need a different scope from one that already fits the household.
Official guidance: Kirkland pre-approved DADU plan program, Kirkland guide to using a pre-approved DADU design.
What can prevent expedited review?
| Program qualification | Question for the site |
|---|---|
| Hazards and environmental review | Is shoreline, geological or critical-area review needed? |
| Drainage | Does it meet the program’s basic-review and connection criteria? |
| Water and sewer | Do existing services meet the stated capacity and connection conditions? |
| Access changes | Does the proposal add or alter a driveway, parking, garage or curb access? |
The detailed city guide sets out the actual criteria. A licensed plan alone does not resolve any of these site questions.
Official guidance: Kirkland guide to using a pre-approved DADU design.
How should you compare program and custom-plan budgets?
Use the same site-work, utility and finish assumptions for both choices. Put the license, any additional design, survey, engineering, approvals and construction on separate lines. This avoids comparing a plan fee with a complete custom project price.
Ask which work can use the registered documents and which needs a new site-specific design. Keep any change to the review path visible in the schedule as well as the cost comparison.
What happens after you select a design?
- Confirm the plan license and intended changes with the designer.
- Prepare the site-specific package and design registration information.
- Complete the property ADU registration and required applications.
- Submit and follow the review path for the actual site.
TimberworX can discuss the options in a free initial consultation. Detailed design and budgeting are paid preconstruction services. Bring the candidate plan and property records so the next scope addresses the actual site.
A few things to know
Is the up-to-$1,000 license an all-inclusive project price?
No. It is the program’s plan-license charge. Site design, approvals and construction are additional scope.
Can the city’s accelerated-review wording be treated as a guaranteed permit date?
No. The project has to meet the program qualifications and receive its required reviews.
Keep planning
Kirkland DADU Permits: Registration, Plans and Review
Plan a Kirkland DADU permit with ADU registration, building and fire review, utility documents and a choice of custom or pre-approved plans.
Eastside DADU Permit Costs: Duvall and Bothell Examples
Compare published DADU permit charges in Duvall and Bothell, Kirkland plan licensing and the separate scope behind a construction estimate.
Eastside DADU Timelines: Permits, Utilities and Construction
Understand the specific review milestones behind an Eastside DADU schedule, including Bothell water availability and Kirkland’s pre-approved plan path.