Concrete Services in Kent
Kent sits between Renton and Auburn and is split by the Green River valley: the flat valley floor is a major regional industrial and distribution center, while East Hill and West Hill rise on either side and hold most of the city's homes. Most Kent residential properties were built between the 1960s and 1990s, and the valley floor and the hills present different site conditions on each side of the river.
Concrete topics for Kent homeowners
Popular Concrete Services in Kent
Green River valley and its levees
The Kent Valley floor is Green River floodplain, and the city says the valley is prone to flooding, with flooding still occurring during winter storms and long stretches of heavy rain. Levees along the Green River protect the valley; the city notes that together they can prevent flooding in about two-thirds of the Kent valley. For development questions, Kent uses the 2020 FEMA flood insurance rate maps until further notice, and valley-floor slabs and footings generally need more base preparation than lots up on East Hill or West Hill.
Warehouse and commercial flatwork
The valley's warehouse and distribution corridor keeps commercial flatwork in demand: slab floors, loading docks, ADA-compliant approaches, and parking pads. Potholing, trenching, or a pavement cut at the street edge on these sites needs a Right-of-Way Permit from Development Engineering.
Permits in Kent
Kent's permitting is paperless: applications go through the city's online Permit Portal, and Economic and Community Development handles building permits and inspections. Development Engineering issues Right-of-Way Permits, which are required for any proposed work or disturbance in the city right-of-way, including streets, sidewalks, and shoulders. Approved traffic control plans are good for 60 days unless otherwise specified, and every contractor working inside Kent city limits needs a City of Kent business license.
Behind the property line, Kent's published exemptions cover low driveways and sidewalks (30 inches or less above adjacent grade, with no basement below) and retaining walls of 4 feet or less, footing included, that carry no surcharge. Critical areas, including frequently flooded areas, geologically hazardous areas, erosion hazard zones, and aquifer recharge areas, are regulated under KCC 11.06, and the Green River is a shoreline of statewide significance under the city's Shoreline Master Program.
Kent concrete FAQs
Do I need a permit to replace a driveway in Kent?
Usually not for the private slab, because Kent's do-I-need-a-permit list leaves out driveways and sidewalks up to 30 inches above adjacent grade that sit over no basement and aren't part of an accessible route. Any work or disturbance in the city right-of-way, such as a new approach or sidewalk panel, needs a Right-of-Way Permit from Development Engineering.
When does a retaining wall need a permit in Kent?
Kent's permit page puts the line at 4 feet from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall: anything taller needs a permit, and so does a lower wall carrying a surcharge or holding back Class I, II, or III-A liquids. Walls near steep slopes or other critical areas also fall under Kent's critical areas code, KCC 11.06.
Is my Kent property in a flood area?
Possibly, if it is on the valley floor. Kent says the valley is prone to flooding, and the city uses the 2020 FEMA flood insurance rate maps for development decisions until further notice. Green River levees can prevent flooding in about two-thirds of the Kent valley, but flooding still happens during winter storms and long periods of heavy rain.
Nearby service areas
We also pour, repair, and replace concrete in the communities around Kent:
Call (206) 552-9998 for a free on-site estimate in Kent.
