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PermitBase

Federal Way building permits

Department contacts, adopted codes, permit types, fees, and gotchas for Federal Way, Washington.

Last verified 2026-09-16 · Source · Embed this page’s badge · Version history

Building department

Phone
(253) 835-7000

Codes adopted

The State Building Code is in effect in every county and city in Washington, and its minimum performance standards may not be diminished locally. A local amendment that affects single-family or multifamily residential buildings is not effective unless the State Building Code Council approves it; amendments to non-residential provisions carry no such approval requirement.

  • THE 2021 INTERNATIONAL BUILDING CODE, NAMED. FWRC 13.16.020: "The 2021 Edition of the International Building Code (IBC), including the following appendix chapters: (1) Appendix E, published by the International Code Council (ICC), is hereby adopted by reference pursuant to Chapter 19.27 RCW and Chapter 51-50 WAC." Appendix J is adopted by a separate subsection.
  • ACCESSIBILITY IS ADOPTED AND PUT BEYOND LOCAL AMENDMENT. The same section: "The International Building Code requirements for barrier-free accessibility, Chapter 11, and other IBC requirements for barrier-free access, including ICC A117.1-2017 and Appendix E, are adopted pursuant to Chapters 19.27 and 70.92 RCW and shall not be amended by local government."
  • PLUMBING IS ROUTED TO THE 2021 UNIFORM PLUMBING CODE, AND SEPTIC TO THE COUNTY. FWRC 13.16.030(2) amends IBC Section 101.4.3 so that "The provisions of the 2021 Edition of the Uniform Plumbing Code shall apply to the installation, alteration, repair and replacement of plumbing systems ... Private Sewage Disposal systems shall be approved by King County Department of Health."
  • ENERGY IS ROUTED TO THE STATE WAC CHAPTERS. FWRC 13.16.030(3) amends IBC Section 101.4.6 so that "The provisions of the International Energy Conservation Code, including WAC 51-11R and WAC 51-11C, shall apply".
  • A WILDFIRE CODE IS IN FORCE HERE. FWRC 13.47.020: "The 2021 International Wildland-Urban Interface Code (IWUIC) is adopted as amended, added to, or excepted in this chapter, and shall be applicable within the city." (Ord. No. 24-980, SS 19, 1-16-24.)
  • Title 13 also carries separate chapters for Five-Story Type VA Buildings (13.20), the Residential Code (13.22), Mechanical (13.26), Existing Building (13.28), Fire (13.31), Plumbing (13.34), Electrical (13.38), Swimming Pool (13.40), Energy (13.41), Factory Assembled Structures (13.42), Property Maintenance (13.43) and Moving Buildings (13.45). NONE OF THOSE WERE READ FOR THIS ENTRY.
  • RCW 19.27 - the Washington State Building Code applies statewide.

Permit types & fees

Federal Way's permit history isn't searchable here yet

This page covers what the permit requires. What we don't have for Federal Way yet is the record of permits actually issued — the history you'd search by street address. That is a gap in our coverage, not a statement about any particular property.

Your email, and the place — never an address. We only use it to tell you when Federal Way lands. Privacy.

New residential construction activity

New privately-owned residential construction only

Housing units authorized by building permits for new privately-owned residential construction — this is not total permit volume (no commercial permits or remodels).

Latest month (2026-07)
10units

10 buildings · $3.3M valuation

Trailing 12 months
69units

9 of 12 months reported · #16 in Washington coverage by units

Year to date (2026 YTD through 2026-07)
49units

49 buildings · $24.3M valuation

7 month(s) reported to Census

Full year 2025
136units

136 buildings · $49.1M valuation

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey (BPS), 2026-07 vintage. Census survey data — separate from the permit-requirements verification above. All Washington building activity

Tips & gotchas

  • ACCESSIBILITY DOES NOT VARY BY CITY, AND FEDERAL WAY'S CODE SAYS SO: those requirements "shall not be amended by local government." Most other things in this guide DO vary.
  • A 2021 International Wildland-Urban Interface Code applies here - wildfire provisions are not something most Washington cities in this guide carry.
  • Where the wildfire code conflicts with another city regulation, the MORE RESTRICTIVE rule applies.
  • Appeals are 14 days from the decision, and the fee MAY be refunded if you prevail.
  • The grounds of appeal are narrow - misinterpretation, inapplicability, or an equally good or better alternative.
  • A private septic system needs King County Department of Health approval, separate from the city permit.
  • Federal Way names its edition (2021 IBC) rather than adopting whatever is current.
  • This entry did NOT read Chapter 13.22, the Residential Code, so it says nothing about Federal Way's IRC amendments or residential design criteria.

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