Blaine and Birch Bay, Whatcom County
Water and fire damage help in Blaine and Birch Bay
Water from a split line, river water in the house, smoke after a fire, or mold spreading on a wall: send the details from your address in Blaine and Birch Bay. One restoration company that works this part of the county phones you and puts its price on paper before starting.
- Homes
- 9,615
- Median year built
- 1993
- Flood claims on record
- 45
- Built before 1980
- 21%
About Blaine and Birch Bay
Blaine and Birch Bay sit on the saltwater at the border, from Semiahmoo and downtown Blaine around Drayton Harbor to the cabins and condos along Birch Bay Drive. ZIP 98230 has about 9,615 homes and a median build year of 1993, with 9% of homes in mobile or manufactured units (Census ACS). Seasonal and second homes are common, which matters in a freeze: a pipe that bursts in an empty cabin can run for days before anyone sees it.
Homes and water in Blaine and Birch Bay
Blaine and Birch Bay has about 9,615 housing units according to the Census ACS 2020-2024, with a median year built of 1993. It is a mix of eras: 21% of homes predate 1980 and 38% date from 2000 on, so old farmhouses sit a few roads from new cul-de-sacs.
The river rarely reaches houses here, and this ZIP code has only 45 NFIP claims on file. When a house here gets wet, a pipe, a fixture or the roof is the usual culprit.
Rain and cold don't change much from one end of Whatcom County to the other. The Bellingham airport station averages about 169 days a year with rain, and over 2016-2025 it averaged 5.3 nights a year at 20°F or below, nearly all of them between December and February. Anything that stays wet past the EPA's 24 to 48 hour window is a candidate for mold.
Blaine and Birch Bay ZIP codes
| ZIP | Area | Homes | Median built | NFIP claims |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 98230 | Blaine and Birch Bay | 9,615 | 1993 | 45 |
Census ACS 2020-2024; OpenFEMA NFIP claims, all years. Compare all 14 ZIP codes.
Average nights at 25°F or colder, by month
Jobs we refer in Blaine and Birch Bay
What happens after you ask
- Describe the damage. The form takes a minute, or text us pictures instead. A rough idea of when it started helps.
- One Whatcom County company phones you. Expect a couple of questions and a time for someone to come see it.
- The price comes on paper first. Nothing starts until you say yes. If a claim is likely, ask how they record readings and photos for the adjuster.
Common questions in Blaine and Birch Bay
Is every part of Blaine and Birch Bay covered?
Requests from ZIP 98230 all go out. On the first call, the company checks that your street falls inside the area it serves.
When can a crew get here?
That varies with the day, and after a hard freeze or a Nooksack flood every company in the county is stretched. Mention in the request if water is still running, or if someone in the house has asthma or a weakened immune system, and the company will give you a time.
Will I see a price before they start?
Ask for the scope and the price on paper first. When water is still active, drying may begin on the first visit, so ask what that day costs and how equipment is billed before signing anything.
Nearby: South Bellingham and Fairhaven, North Bellingham, Lake Whatcom and Sudden Valley, Ferndale, Lynden, Nooksack Valley, Mount Baker Foothills and Bellingham.