Concrete Services in Shoreline
Shoreline is a King County city directly north of Seattle, between Greenwood and Lake Forest Park. The housing stock is largely mid-century — 1940s through 1970s single-family homes on tree-lined lots, with original concrete that is now past the 50-year mark. The city's terrain is relatively gentle but creek corridors and Puget Sound-facing slopes affect the western neighborhoods.
Concrete topics for Shoreline homeowners
Popular Concrete Services in Shoreline
Foundation and basement work on older homes
Shoreline's mid-century housing stock often shows the foundation issues common to post-war construction — settlement, water intrusion, and unreinforced perimeter walls reaching the end of their service life. Repair, underpinning, and basement work are recurring scopes. See foundation repair and the basement permit guide.
Shaded lots and moss prevention
Shoreline's tree cover keeps many residential surfaces shaded year-round, which favors moss and mildew growth on aging concrete. Drainage, periodic cleaning, and a properly applied penetrating sealer are the controls that keep growth from accumulating. See the moss and mildew guide and the sealer comparison.
Permits in Shoreline
Inside city limits, permits come from the City of Shoreline's Planning & Community Development department rather than King County. Any construction in the public right-of-way needs a right-of-way use permit, and the city's checklist lists installing or modifying a driveway apron; applications are due at least 10 working days before work starts. Whether the rest of a driveway project needs a permit depends on its size, the property's location, and whether the work extends into the right-of-way.
Under SMC 20.50.320, a clearing and grading permit is required for earthwork of 50 cubic yards or more, clearing of 3,000 square feet or more (1,500 in a special drainage area), and any land-disturbing work in a critical area or its buffer, such as a landslide hazard area regulated under SMC 20.80. Lots within 200 feet of Puget Sound's ordinary high water mark also fall under the Shoreline Master Program.
Shoreline concrete FAQs
Do I need a permit to replace a driveway in Shoreline?
Possibly. The city says it depends on how large the driveway is, where the property is, and whether the work extends into the public right-of-way. Installing or modifying the driveway apron at the street is right-of-way work that needs a right-of-way use permit, which is valid for 180 days from issuance. If the job moves 50 cubic yards of soil or more, a clearing and grading permit applies as well.
How much excavation triggers a grading permit in Shoreline?
Earthwork of 50 cubic yards or more triggers a clearing and grading permit under SMC 20.50.320, counting soil that is excavated, filled, brought onto the site, hauled off, or moved around the site. For scale, 50 cubic yards is roughly a 2,700-square-foot area dug 6 inches deep. Inside a critical area or its buffer, any clearing or grading needs a permit unless the code specifically exempts it.
Does a retaining wall or fence along the street need a permit in Shoreline?
If any part of it sits in the public right-of-way, yes. Shoreline's right-of-way permit FAQ lists fences, retaining walls, terracing, and similar structures among the work that needs a permit, and applications are due at least 10 working days before work begins. A wall built in a critical area or its buffer can also require a clearing and grading permit.
Nearby service areas
We also pour, repair, and replace concrete in the communities around Shoreline:
Call (206) 552-9998 for a free on-site estimate in Shoreline.
