Demolition Contractors in Bellevue, WA

Bellevue homeowners usually look for demolition contractors when an older house no longer makes sense to remodel and the lot is worth more with something new on it. The city incorporated on March 31, 1953, and grew fast after the Evergreen Point Floating Bridge opened in 1963; Crossroads was annexed in 1964 and Lake Hills in 1969. Many houses from those decades have now reached the point where owners choose to start over. Bellevue counted 151,854 people and 64,688 housing units in the 2020 census.

What Bellevue's demolition permit covers, and what it does not

The City of Bellevue issues a demolition permit for all or part of a permanent structure: houses, multifamily and commercial buildings, garages and sheds. It includes clearing and grading when the foundation comes out. A few points on the city's page matter for planning:

• No new construction. A demolition permit only covers taking down what exists.
• No tree removal. Trees need a separate clearing and grading permit.
• Utilities. Applicants submit a Disconnection of Water/Sewer Service form, and capping work in the public right-of-way needs its own right-of-way permit, as do temporary construction entrances or fencing in the street.
• Stormwater. A Construction Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (CSWPPP) is part of the submittal. The city allows a short form for projects under 7,000 square feet of clearing and under 500 cubic yards of grading, which covers most single-lot residential teardowns.
• SEPA. Some projects may need a SEPA environmental checklist during review.

We prepare the demolition drawing and erosion plan details with you, and we coordinate the timing so the water and sewer disconnection happens before the house comes down rather than holding up the crew.

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Asbestos and the Clean Air Agency

Bellevue's permit page sends asbestos questions to building review, but the regional rule is clear. The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency requires an asbestos survey by an AHERA-certified inspector and a demolition notification for structures with more than 120 square feet of roof area, followed by a 10-day wait. Houses built in the 1950s and 1960s are prime candidates for asbestos in floor tile, mastic, duct tape and joint compound. We ask for the survey early because it often sets the start date.

Water on the lot

Wikipedia notes that much of Bellevue drains through the Kelsey Creek watershed, which rises in the Larsen Lake and Phantom Lake greenbelt and reaches Lake Washington near I-90. South of I-90 the city climbs the slopes of Cougar Mountain. On sloped or creek-side lots, a bare demolition site can send sediment downhill fast in a winter rain. That is why the stormwater plan is not a formality: we stabilize the construction entrance, protect catch basins and cover stockpiles until the lot is handed off to the builder.

Bel-Red and the changing city

The Bel-Red redevelopment plan covers about 900 acres of former light-industrial land, and downtown has seen many high-rise projects. Most of our Bellevue work is residential, but we also take out tenant interiors, small commercial buildings and paved areas on redevelopment sites.

Typical Bellevue jobs

• Full house removal down to bare dirt for a rebuild
• Detached garages, sheds and carports
• Driveway, patio and retaining wall break-out
• Interior gut demolition before a remodel
• Pool and hot tub removal

Call (425) 598-0539 to set up a walkthrough.