Land development and redevelopment is an important part of a growing city’s well-being. However, making more space for new buildings changes land  use and can cause problems like flooding, erosion, sedimentation, habitat loss, loss of groundwater recharge, and water quality degradation. SWM has created policies, codes, and procedures to reduce these negative impacts on Kenmore citizens and the environment. Those actions include comprehensive and thorough permit review, construction inspection, enforcement, and maintenance. The City’s full Surface Water Runoff Policy can be found in Kenmore Municipal Code Chapter 13.35.

Design standards and maintenance manuals are crucial for consistency and upkeep of all developing and redeveloping projects. The City has adopted the 2021 King County Surface Water Design Manual, City of Kenmore Surface Water Design Manual Addendum(see the road standards), and the 2021 City of Kenmore Road Standard to design and implement projects.

Downtown Kenmore's extensive development and redevelopment.

Low Impact Development (LID) is the new surface water management philosophy that strives to manage surface water at the source through principles such as, but not limited to:

1. Retention of native soils, vegetation and trees
2. Reduction of impervious areas
3. Clustering of development away from critical habitat

These requirements are met by using Best Management Practices (BMPs) like rain gardens, green roofs, bio-retention facilities and permeable surfaces (including asphalt and concrete pavements, pavers and reinforced vegetated surfaces).

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