Water damage restoration · Bothell, Washington
Water damage restoration in Bothell, WA
Burst pipe, failed water heater, or storm water? Bothell-area ZIPs: 15 flood claims since 1978[1]; 27% of homes built before 1980[2]. Request help from local restoration crews. Bothell, in King County and Snohomish County — ZIPs 98011, 98021, counts 52,199 residents (2025 estimate)[3].
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The Bothell water damage picture in brief
- Population (2025 est.)
- 52,199[3]+8.4% since 2020
- County
- King / Snohomish[3]city spans more than one county
- Land area
- 13.6 sq mi[4]
- Flood-insurance (NFIP) claims, local ZIPs
- 15 since 1978[1]$236,004 paid across 9 claims · ZIP 98011, 98021
- Flood & flash-flood reports within 10 mi
- 3[5]2016–2025 · latest Dec 5, 2023
- Federal disaster declarations incl. flooding, King Co.
- 11[6]of 18 total declarations
- Homes built before 1980
- 27%[2]the 4th-lowest share of the 15 Seattle-area suburbs we cover
- Households renting
- 35%[2]2020–2024
Reading the Bothell data for water damage
Bothell is one of the fastest-growing Seattle-metro suburbs tracked here: 52,199 people (2025 estimate), up 8.4% since 2020[3]. The city spans 13.6 square miles at 3,828 residents per square mile (the 9th densest) and spans King County and Snohomish County, served by ZIP codes 98011, 98021[4].
Bothell mixes 24% of homes built since 2010 and 27% before 1980[2]: new supply lines and water heaters in one house, aging pipe and original valves in the next — so where a leak starts depends a lot on the address.
Bothell is split across 2 ZIP codes: 98011 (52% of the city's land), 98021 (46% of the city's land)[7].
The closest tracked neighbours are Kirkland (5.3 mi S), Lynnwood (5.9 mi NW) and Edmonds (7.4 mi W)[4].
15 flood-insurance claims have come from Bothell-area ZIP codes (98011, 98021) since 1978, and $236,004 has been paid on them (about $26,223 per paid claim)[1]. 2023 was the worst year, with 3 claims. That is the fewest of the 15 Seattle-area suburbs we cover; for comparison, Kirkland (29), Lynnwood (46), and Edmonds (32). Most jobs here start inside the house. Of the 11 claims rated in a flood zone, 4 were in FEMA's high-risk areas (zones A or V) and 7 outside them (zones B, C or X)[1][8] — flooding here is not only a high-risk-zone problem.
By month of loss, Bothell-area flood claims cluster in May (1), November (6), and December (7) — 14 of 15 dated claims[1].
Within 10 miles of central Bothell, weather observers filed 3 flood, flash-flood or heavy-rain reports in 2016–2025[5]. Countywide: 11 flood declarations since 2000, latest Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (DR-4906, 2025)[6]. Nearby: Kirkland (3), Lynnwood (0), and Edmonds (2).
27% of Bothell's 20,533 housing units predate 1980[2] — the 4th-lowest share of the 15 Seattle-area suburbs we cover (Kirkland (44%), Lynnwood (53%), and Edmonds (61%)). In newer houses, check fittings, washer hoses and the water-heater pan first — and any builder warranty.
65% of Bothell households own their home[2], so most claims and rebuilds here are coordinated by the owner.
Measured against the 15 suburbs on this site, Bothell records the fewest NFIP flood claims (15)[1], the most flood reports nearby (3, tied with 3 other suburbs)[5], and the 3rd-lowest renter share (35%)[2].
How a leak spreads inside a wall
Give a leak time and it travels — outward across the floor, upward into drywall by capillary action.
Get water damage help in Bothell
Your request reaches Water damage restoration contractors who serve Bothell (ZIP codes 98011, 98021).
Before you call: what a restoration crew does first
Shared walls and ceilings: Bothell homes by building type
39%[2] of Bothell's homes share walls, floors or ceilings with a neighbour (multi-unit buildings alone: 34%, the 2nd-lowest multi-unit share of the 15 Seattle-area suburbs we cover). Water crosses those lines: in an attached or stacked unit, tell the neighbour and the association or landlord right away, and check whose policy covers which part of the damage.
After detached houses, the biggest group is 50 or more units: 2,520 of 20,533 housing units[2].
Bothell also has 1,308 mobile homes (6.4%); for a leak under one, ask for a crew that works on manufactured homes.
| Building type | Units | Share | Margin of error |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detached house | 11,070 | 53.9% | ±461 |
| Attached house (townhouse, rowhouse) | 1,167 | 5.7% | ±231 |
| Duplex (2 units) | 335 | 1.6% | ±226 |
| 3–4 units | 715 | 3.5% | ±176 |
| 5–9 units | 1,532 | 7.5% | ±255 |
| 10–19 units | 1,151 | 5.6% | ±255 |
| 20–49 units | 679 | 3.3% | ±191 |
| 50 or more units | 2,520 | 12.3% | ±395 |
| Mobile home | 1,308 | 6.4% | ±277 |
| Boat, RV, van, etc. | 56 | 0.3% | ±53 |
Margins of error are the Census Bureau’s 90% intervals; small categories in small cities are rough.
Bothell by the numbers
| Measure | Bothell | Median of 15 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flood reports (10 mi) | 3 | 1 | 2 more |
| NFIP flood claims (area ZIPs) | 15 | 46 | 31 fewer |
| Median home value | $925,100 | $686,900 | 35% higher |
| Built before 1980 | 27% | 39% | 12 pts lower |
| Renter-occupied | 35% | 45% | 10 pts lower |
| Owner-occupied | 65% | 55% | 10 pts higher |
| Median year built | 1992 | 1985 | 7 years newer |
Largest differences first. Medians are the middle value across the covered Seattle-area suburbs, from the same sources.
| City | NFIP claims | Flood reports ≤10 mi | Built before 1980 | Renting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bothell | 15 | 3 | 27% | 35% |
| Kirkland 5.3 mi | 29 | 3 | 44% | 39% |
| Lynnwood 5.9 mi | 46 | 0 | 53% | 49% |
| Edmonds 7.4 mi | 32 | 2 | 61% | 29% |
| Redmond 7.8 mi | 17 | 3 | 26% | 57% |
| Bellevue 12.3 mi | 77 | 3 | 47% | 48% |
| ZIP | Claims | Paid | Busiest year | Outside high-risk zones |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 98011 | 7 | $17,750 | 2023 (3) | 4 of 5 |
| 98021 | 8 | $218,254 | 1980 (2) | 3 of 6 |
ZIPs extend past city limits. Outside high-risk zones: claims rated in zone B, C or X, of the claims that carry a zone.
| Year | Claims |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 3 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 1998 | 1 |
| 1995 | 1 |
| 1990 | 1 |
| 1981 | 1 |
| 1980 | 2 |
| 1978 | 1 |
| Month | Claims |
|---|---|
| May | 1 |
| October | 1 |
| November | 6 |
| December | 7 |
| Date | Type | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Dec 5, 2023 | Heavy Rain | 6.5 mi |
| Dec 4, 2023 | Heavy Rain | 6.5 mi |
| Jan 12, 2021 | Flood | 7.7 mi |
| ZIP (ZCTA) | Share of Bothell's land | Share of the ZIP inside the city |
|---|---|---|
| 98011 | 52% | 100% |
| 98021 | 46% | 62% |
Common Bothell water damage questions
Do I need flood insurance in Bothell?
Homeowners policies exclude outside floodwater[9], and Bothell-area ZIPs have 4 NFIP claims in just the last ten years[1].
Which Bothell ZIP codes do these crews cover?
98011 and 98021[7], in King County. Nearby pages: Kirkland (5.3 mi), Lynnwood (5.9 mi), and Edmonds (7.4 mi)[4].
Which Bothell ZIP code has the most flood claims?
98021, with 8 NFIP claims and $218,254 paid[1].
When was the last flood report near Bothell?
Dec 5, 2023: a heavy rain report 6.5 miles from the city center[5].
My Bothell home is fairly new — could the plumbing fixtures and water heater still be under warranty?
Possibly: 24% of Bothell's housing units were built in 2010 or later[2], the 3rd-highest share of the 15 Seattle-area suburbs we cover. Check your closing paperwork for warranties before paying for a repair.
Sources
- OpenFEMA NFIP claims
- Census ACS 2020–2024 5-year (keyless bulk)
- Census population estimates, Vintage 2025
- Census Gazetteer 2025
- NOAA Storm Events Database
- OpenFEMA disaster declarations
- Census 2020 ZCTA–place file
- FEMA, Flood Zones (link unverified)
- FEMA FloodSmart (link unverified)
Data pulled Sep 28, 2026. Full citations and method.