AXE Engineering

The #1 reason infill projects stall?
It's not zoning... It's drainage.
A well thought out stormwater drainage plan can make the difference between breaking ground on time and going back to the drawing board. We help developers and architects get middle housing projects permitted and built… without the costly surprises.
Ready to move forward with a detached ADU project? Request a proposal today → link in bio.

Another Snohomish County project across the finish line.
This one started out pretty straightforward: a targeted drainage plan and Land Disturbing Activity (LDA) permit for a new shop and driveway extension.... Our core service offering

Then the contractor hit groundwater.

And not just groundwater, but groundwater at a shallower depth than expected, which could have meant stopping work, redesigning the stormwater system, and potentially adding unnecessary delays and expense to the project. Instead, AXE Engineering was able to keep things moving with a simple engineering memo to the County and a small adjustment to the stormwater design. We raised the infiltration trench about a foot to maintain the required separation from groundwater while allowing the project to continue without redesigning the entire system.

Years of working through real-world drainage and stormwater projects means we've seen plenty of situations where a project doesn't need to be reinvented. It just needs an experienced engineer who can recognize the problem, understand the requirements, and find the simplest path forward.

Another project unstuck. Another client able to keep moving.

📍 Snohomish County, WA
AXE Engineering Services, LLC
Cutting Through Project Barriers

Your city is changing... and if you're planning an infill project, the clock is already ticking. Middle housing (duplexes, triplexes, ADUs, & townhomes) is the fastest-growing housing category in cities across the Pacific Northwest. But most projects stall before they break ground…not because of bad design, but because of stormwater and drainage issues that weren't caught early. Good civil engineering is what gets your project through permitting and breaking ground on time.
👇 Request a proposal today — link in bio.

Two years.... One project... A whole lot of persistence.
We've been working alongside a client for almost two years to get a genuinely difficult land development project through permitting. Coordinating reviewers across two municipal agencies, multiple site visits with survey crews and a septic designer, and a land-use attorney working through legal descriptions for easements.
With just one piece of the puzzle left, another consultant on the project told the client it couldn't be done. Not enough time, no path to approval, effectively dead.
-We disagreed-
Axe stepped in, took over the final submittal, and negotiated a permit extension that kept the project alive and moving toward approval. Not because it was ease, but because we don't walk away from a promise to a client.
This is the kind of work we do every day: the unglamorous, detail-heavy, "someone has to see this through" work that actually gets projects built.
Have a stalled project? Want to make sure the one your still planning doesn’t die before it gets through permitting? Request a Proposal Today — link in bio.

Another challenging Bellingham residential project across the finish line. At Axe Engineering, residential stormwater isn't an afterthought. It's a core part of what we do, especially when the site doesn't cooperate with textbook solutions.
This single-family home on Raptor Lane recently received final sign-off from the City of Bellingham after passing inspection on a stormwater design that had to overcome some pretty difficult site conditions.
The property has steep slopes, a challenging driveway, and soil conditions that made many of our go-to stormwater solutions impractical. Water couldn't be counted on to simply drain into the ground, and the steep terrain meant we also had to be careful about where and how runoff was conveyed from the top of the lot to the bottom of the driveway where everything meets the street level.The project also exceeded the limits of what the neighborhood's stormwater system was designed to handle, which meant additional detention and flow control were required.
-That's where local experience matters-
Axe Engineering designed a system that collects water from the new house and driveway, temporarily holds it on site, and then releases it slowly enough to stay within the limits of the existing neighborhood drainage system.
In other words: we couldn't use the easy, standard solution, so we designed a custom plan designed specifically for this particular property. It took a long time to work through the steep terrain, difficult soil conditions, and the limitations of the neighborhood's existing drainage system, but the result was a practical solution that could actually be permitted and built.

That's the value of having a local engineering team that understands Bellingham's stormwater requirements and how they apply to real residential properties.

Challenging site? Challenging stormwater requirements? That's where Axe Engineering earns its keep.

📍 Bellingham, WA
AXE Engineering Services, LLC
Cutting Through Project Barriers

Great review from katherine c.... "My experience with AXE engineering and Karis in particular was very positive. She went above and beyond, keeping me updated and being so patient and helpful in overcoming my technical ignorance . After being frustrated with this permitting project for over 2 years she was able to get it together within months."

★★★★★ katherine c.'s review for Axe Engineering Services Check out what our customers are saying about us!

Great review from Arrow H.... "We have very much enjoyed working with Axe Engineering over the years. Everyone there is very professional, attentive and thorough and we would highly recommend them."

★★★★★ Arrow H.'s review for Axe Engineering Services Check out what our customers are saying about us!

We’re a small firm—and that’s exactly the point.

At AXE Engineering, you’re not just another name on a production team. You’re involved. You see the impact of your work. You help move real projects forward for real communities, including right here in Bellingham, Washington.

We built AXE so engineers could do meaningful work, build client relationships, and grow in a place where their ideas actually matter.

Ready for a change?

Send us your resume, a brief note on a project you’re proud of, and why you think you belong here.

Apply today: axeengineering.com/careers?utm_source=Facebook&utm_campaign=missed_calls&utm_medium=social&utm_content=phone_mockup

Great review from Bryan A.... "We've had the pleasure of working with Karis and the Axe team on numerous projects over the past several years, and they have consistently exceeded our expectations. Having a team that is attentive to detail, communicates promptly, and follows through on commitments is invaluable in an industry where accuracy and responsiveness can save both time and money. Axe has been a reliable partner throughout every project, and their professionalism makes the process smooth from start to finish. We truly appreciate all of your hard work and dedication and look forward to collaborating with you again on many future projects. Thank you for everything you do!"

★★★★★ Bryan A.'s review for Axe Engineering Services Check out what our customers are saying about us!

Great review from paul o.... "Karis and Erin are an awesome team to work with! Their communication, quality of deliverables and continually hitting our tight timelines are top of class. I have done many projects with them from ADU's to large multifamily and storage projects and their process and deliverables has always been excellent."

★★★★★ paul o.'s review for Axe Engineering Services Check out what our customers are saying about us!