HomeMy WebLinkAboutResidential Utility Service Guidelinesrentonwa.gov/permitservices | developmentengineering@rentonwa.gov | 425-430-7240 10/30/2025 Page 1 of 2
CITY OF RENTON Ι PERMIT SERVICES
RESIDENTIAL UTILITY SERVICE GUIDELINES
APPLICABILITY
Residential utility requirements vary based on the physical configuration of the development and whether dwelling
units are located on individually platted lots or within a unplatted or condominium development.
DEFINITIONS
Platted Unit – A dwelling unit located on its own individually subdivided lot, typically established through a formal
platting process. These units are designed for separate fee-simple ownership and are typically served with
individual utility connections. Examples include detached homes, duplexes, and townhomes located on separate
lots.
Unplatted Lot or Condominium Development – A building or group of buildings located on a single parent parcel
or within a condominium ownership structure, where individual dwelling units do not occupy separate lots. These
developments may contain multiple dwelling units within one or more buildings and typically share structural and
utility infrastructure.
UTILITY SERVICE STANDARDS
Utility Platted Residential Lots Unplatted Lot or Condominium
Developments
Water • Each primary dwelling unit and any
accessory dwelling unit (ADU) located
on a platted residential lot shall be
served by a separate water service line
and individual water meter with each
meter connected directly to a city water
main.
• Water service lines shall not be located
beneath buildings, or any other
structures and shall be located in areas
that easily accessible for maintenance
or repair.
• Meters and water service lines shall be
sized per Uniform Plumbing Codes as
part of the building permit approval and
shall be located and installed in
accordance with City of Renton utility
standards.
• Each residential building and
condominium building shall be served
by a separate water service line and
individual meter, each connected
directly to a city water main fronting
each residential building, each unit of a
multi-plex building, or each
condominium unit with zero lot line.
• Private sub-meters may be installed for
private purposes only, such as bill
splitting, but sub-metering is not
required by the city, and the city will only
provide one bill to the owner of the
building or dwelling unit that is served by
city water meter.
• Water service lines shall not be located
beneath buildings or any other
structures and shall be located in areas
that easily accessible for maintenance
or repair.
RESIDENTIAL UTILITY SERVICE GUIDELINES
rentonwa.gov/permitservices | developmentengineering@rentonwa.gov | 425-430-7240 10/30/2025 Page 2 of 2
Utility Platted Residential Lots Unplatted Lot or Condominium
Developments
Sewer • Each platted lot shall have a side sewer
to the public main.
• Side sewers shall not cross beneath
buildings or other structures and located
in areas that are easily accessible for
maintenance or repair.
• The lot being served must have legal
rights to access, operate and maintain
the side sewer.
• Each building may connect to a shared
sewer system with a common side sewer
stub or main.
• Internal plumbing shall convey
wastewater from all units within the
building to the building’s main sewer
line.
• Connected multifamily developments
may share a single side sewer.
• A joint use side sewer and maintenance
agreement is required and recorded
against the property whenever one or
more buildings share a side sewer with
separate ownership of the buildings or
dwelling units within a building.
Storm Drainage • Each lot shall have individual storm
drainage service lines that may connect
to a shared private system discharging to
the public stormwater system.
• Where drainage infrastructure is shared,
a recorded storm drainage easement is
required.
• Each building or area shall connect to a
shared storm drainage system.
• Site runoff shall be collected in a private
storm system and discharged to the
public storm system or a natural
waterbody, after complying with all
applicable requirements in the Renton
Surface Water Design Manual.
GENERAL NOTES
1. Shared private utility systems require a recorded private easement and maintenance agreement whenever
one or more buildings or dwelling units share a utility line, but ownership of the buildings or units is separate.
For properties established as condominiums, the recorded Declaration and Covenants, Conditions, and
Restrictions (CC&Rs) must clearly define ownership and long-term maintenance responsibilities for all
shared utility service lines and infrastructure.
2. Utility service requirements are based on the physical configuration and legal subdivision status of the
development (i.e., platted vs. non-platted or condominium), not only on who owns the property.
3. Utility designs must be submitted for review and approval through the City of Renton's permit review process.
Coordination with the city is required for all connections to public utility infrastructure.